August 12, 2024

By August Ryan

The MD program Class of 2028 gathered at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia on Friday, August 9, to celebrate their entry into medical school with the White Coat Ceremony. In donning their white physician’s coats with the College’s community, students show their commitment to the duties and values of the medical profession.

Leon McCrea II, MD, MPH, the Deborah J. Tuttle, MD, and John P. Piper, MD, Vice Dean for Educational Affairs, welcomed attendees and spoke on the importance of the day’s event.

“The White Coat ceremony reminds us of the importance of compassionate, collaborative and scientifically excellent care,” he said. Although the ceremony formally marks students’ entry into medical school, the approximately 300 incoming students weren’t complete strangers to Drexel University College of Medicine, or to one another. In a week of orientation activities, from information sessions and campus tours to social events and icebreakers, the White Coat Ceremony was the culminating event.

In the nationally recognized ceremony, incoming medical students don their white coats, a symbol of clinical care and compassionate service. They also recite the Physician's Pledge, the contemporary successor to the 2,500-year-old Hippocratic Oath, affirming their commitment to a physician’s responsibilities even before their coursework has begun.

Ahead of the ceremony, students also familiarized themselves with some of the College of Medicine’s commitments, exploring opportunities for collaborative learning, innovation and research, and compassionate community engagement.

Some of the Class of 2028 will study at the Health Sciences Building in University City. Others will make up the fourth class to study at the College of Medicine at Tower Health in West Reading, Pa. Wherever the students go, they are one class, unified by common values and goals.

Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Dean and Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs Charles B. Cairns, MD, welcomed the students to the College of Medicine family at the ceremony.

“Despite educating 1,200 medical students at campuses across the country, our school is a close-knit community,” Cairns said. “Our faculty and professional staff members will share their wisdom and experiences and foster your growth as physicians and people. You will also foster those things in each other. We look forward to witnessing your further growth into outstanding healers during your time with us and beyond.”

Support within and outside of the medical school community is crucial for students’ success. Students’ families and friends joined the White Coat celebration in person and online via live stream to cheer their loved ones on.

The College’s a cappella group, Doctor’s Note, and Symphony in C, a five-piece ensemble, welcomed their new classmates with performances. Faculty, professional staff and alumni were also present to greet incoming students.

The ceremony’s keynote speaker was Eugene York, MD, a clinical professor of medicine and co-director of the Drexel University College of Medicine Health Advocacy Practicum (HAP) and Health Advocacy Practicum 2. He is faculty advisor for the College of Medicine’s Health Outreach Project (HOP) programs in West Reading.

Both the HAP and HOP programs give students the opportunity to connect with, learn from, and provide care to members of underserved communities.

In their community outreach work, the MD program Class of 2028 will draw upon the commitment symbolized by their white coats, with the goal of providing quality, compassionate care to all. York spoke on that objective in his address to the students. “How do you honor your white coat, a symbol of trust and dedicated care to your patient?,” Dr. York asked. “Know the science, and treat every patient with respect, avoiding bias. The Latin derivation of the word ‘doctor’ means ‘to teach.’ For you to doctor –that is, teach— use the skill, intelligence and empathy you have already shown."