Excitement and pride filled the air as first-year medical students and their families celebrated the milestone of the White Coat Ceremony Sunday, July 13. Donning their white coats for the first time, they celebrated this cherished tradition that welcomes them into the medical profession, symbolizing their dedication to upholding the highest standards of ethics and patient care.
“Today marks your entry into the field of medicine, and we will be there to support you every step of the way,” said Lia Logio, School of Medicine vice dean for medical education. “This is the beginning of a powerful transformation to becoming doctors, and I know each of you is up to the task. You have an incredibly large and committed group of people to support you in the journey, rooting for you at every step.”
The class worked together to craft their own version of the Hippocratic oath of professionalism, bringing each student’s perspective and experiences as is done every year. They recited the oath during the ceremony, pledging to master their field through learning fueled by unwavering curiosity and to lead with integrity.
This year’s class comes from across the country (85% from outside of Ohio) to study in one of the three MD training programs–172 students in the university program, 32 students in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and 12 in the MD-PhD Medical Scientist Training Program. The students earned undergraduate degrees from 75 different colleges and universities.
“The white coat is a reminder of the trust that society places in physicians and the responsibilities that come with this trust,” said School of Medicine Dean Stan Gerson. “Medicine is a true calling, and our community of educators will help make you among the best physicians in the world.”
Alumnus and keynote speaker James E. Fleming Jr. (MED ‘89), a renowned orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the Adena Orthopedic and Spine Institute, gave a riveting speech on the calling of medicine with inspiring lessons from his career and pride in the incredible education Case Western Reserve offers for career success.
“With Case Western Reserve School of Medicine on your resume, whatever you’re doing, I guarantee you, you’re well prepared,” said Fleming. His remarks brought resounding applause ending with, “This medical community—this milieu, this faculty, these parents, these loved ones, the alumni—this number one institution in the country for a medical student–is here for you. It’s all here. It’s got everything!”
Fleming is a Case Western Reserve board trustee and serves on the School of Medicine’s Dean’s Visiting Committee and the Case Western Reserve Medical Alumni Board.
On Friday, students were gifted with their first stethoscopes during a ceremony that highlighted the countless uses for a stethoscope, and how it is the embodiment of listening to patients and their trust. The Jason Madachy Foundation generously provided matching funds for our first-year medical students’ stethoscopes, alongside Marlene Ricanati, who has been a generous donor to support this program. The Jason Madachy Foundation’s namesake passed away suddenly in 2007, two months before beginning medical school.
The video recording of the White Coat Ceremony is available on the School of Medicine YouTube channel.