White Coat Ceremony Welcomes incoming PhD Students

Group of students gathered together wearing white lab coats

11th Annual Seeds of Discovery Ceremony

Incoming students beginning their biomedical research training as doctoral students were welcomed to the School of Medicine at the annual "Seeds of Discovery" White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Aug. 11. 

While very few institutions hold White Coat ceremonies for doctoral students, the School of Medicine embraces the tradition of welcoming the next generation of scientists. 

Vice Dean for Graduate Education Marvin Nieman, PhD, welcomed the new cohort of scientists from all corners of the United States and worldwide. 

"You are now part of the they," said Nieman. "When you hear comments - why don't they figure out how this disease works, why don't they develop something to cure this? What an exciting prospect! This also is an incredible challenge." 

New PhD students—113 to be exact—for the next 5-7 years will pursue their doctoral degree in one of 17 programs, which include informatics, structural biology, cancer, neuroscience, cardiovascular disease and many more. 

The ceremony's highlight was the students receiving their coats from the department chairs. The ceremony concluded with a welcome from current PhD student Anelise Hutson, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in pharmacology. 

The Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine congratulates this new cohort of scientists!