Dr. Lynn Dyess, professor of surgery at the USA College of Medicine, will be the keynote speaker.
“The white coat is a vivid symbol of the medical profession for medical students and physicians alike. It also serves as a constant reminder of the privilege we have to care for patients,” said Dr. Dyess. “For physicians in training, the ceremony provides a moment to reflect upon the life-long dedication to provide both the best of care for their patients, but also to uphold their commitment to provide this care with compassion and humility.”
In the United States, medical schools typically organize their four-year curriculum into two distinct parts - the preclinical and the clinical years. This tradition holds true at USA, where students spend the first two years in a classroom setting learning the fundamentals of basic science and pathology, followed by two years of hands-on training in the clinical environment under the supervision and mentoring of faculty and resident physicians.
USA medical students Sonia Savani and Russ Terry said the ceremony marks a significant milestone, one in which they will transition into the clinical setting. Their third year begins on Monday, June 27.
“As a class, we really appreciate the recognition,” Terry said. “We’ve worked so hard the last two years in the classroom, and we are looking forward to working with patients on a daily basis. It will be interesting to see how all of the information we have learned applies in the clinical setting.”
Savani, vice president of the class, said she is excited about wearing the white coat. “It’s a symbol of what we are about to do,” she said. “It puts everything into perspective and gives us that push we need to get through the last two years of medical school.”
According to Savani, she entered medical school as a way to explore her two passions – science and education. “I love the medical field and everything it stands for,” she said. “I would love to someday be a physician at a teaching hospital because that would combine both of my main interests.”
Growing up as the daughter of a physician, Savani said she wasn’t always sure she wanted to enter the medical field. But, with her father as her role model, she saw how good he was at balancing his job with his family. Now, she is excited to be following in his footsteps. “My father taught me that your life is what you make of it, and that you definitely can have that balance.”
For students, the White Coat ceremony serves as a reminder of the importance and responsibility they take by dedicating themselves to the care of patients. During the ceremony, the students in unison will take the Medical Student Oath, a promise to uphold the human aspects of medicine, such as sensitivity, compassion and respect for patients.
Each year, the USA Medical Alumni Association sponsors this event.
