The coats went on – accompanied by smiles and, in the case of the audience, cheers and a few tears – as the UNMC College of Medicine’s latest incoming class celebrated its arrival to medical school with the traditional White Coat Ceremony in August.
“The white coat obviously has a long history behind it, and I think that transition resonates with students and family members, as well as well as the faculty and the members of the profession of medicine who’ve been in it a long time,” said Bradley Britigan, MD, who marked his 14th White Coat Ceremony as the dean of the college. “It’s not by accident that the concept started with medical schools.
“This is their launch into medical school, but importantly, it also really incorporates their families and their friends and their colleagues as well,” Dr. Britigan said.
See a photo album from the event
As well as faculty – UNMC’s Shirley Delair, MD, PhD, Geoffrey Talmon, MD, Armando De Alba, MD, PhD, Wendy Grant, MD, Alan Erickson, MD, and Alberto Marcelin, MD, all were beaming as they took turns helping students into their coats.
Anne Cannon, mother of incoming student Ben Brockmann, said she was super-pumped for her son.
“He’s worked his whole life … He’s always had a vision.
“When he was 11, he got diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, so he decided he was going to be a pediatric endocrinologist, which is the doctor that he went to when he was diagnosed. And here he is, 13 years later. I’m very proud of his dedication and his commitment, and he has a passion for it, obviously.
“I’m just as proud as a parent can be,” she said.
Brockmann said it felt amazing to be getting his white coat.
“Ever since high school, all I’ve dreamed of is getting to go to medical school and having this opportunity, and now it’s here,” said the Hasting High School and Creighton University graduate. “Throughout orientation week, I’ve been getting more excited to get up and go.”
The white coat, he said, “means a sense of belonging and professionalism, getting oriented into that community of medicine and feeling like we’re on the right track.”
Incoming student Yvonne Jiang, who was well-supported by family, said that as the event grew closer, her initial nervousness faded.
“This week, I really got a feel for all the incredible people I’m surrounded by,” she said. “It’s such a privilege to be going into such an incredible profession. It’s been a long time coming — the last five years of my life have all been to try to get here — and so it’s going to feel really good when I put that coat on…. It’s a dream come true.”
Tuoma Edegbele, whose parents work in health care, said getting to the White Coat Ceremony had been a humbling experience.
“It signifies a journey that was six years in the making, so this is a culmination of all the work and education, and the other people who helped me along the way, too. It’s just amazing.”
Edegbele said he’s wanted to be a doctor since Day One.
“My parents have a lot of physician friends, and just being around them, seeing the work that they do, it was something I’ve always liked and I’m passionate about.”
One-hundred and thirty-seven incoming medical students participated in the ceremony, which was held at the Orpheum Theater.
The event, in addition to being a welcome to the profession, underscores the physician’s role and responsibilities, Dr. Britigan said.
“Being a physician is more than just being knowledgeable in terms of medical science. It’s about that interpersonal relationship that you establish, and a very special one, with each individual patient. Each one is different and recognizing that is as much about being a physician as the basic science knowledge and clinical knowledge is,” he said.
