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| The Class of 2025 received their white coats at a ceremony held June 16 at the Mitchell Center. |
During the ceremony, 72 third-year medical students took the Medical Student Oath, a promise to uphold the human aspects of medicine such as sensitivity, compassion and respect for patients.
Anna Foust, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine and pediatrics, was the keynote speaker. She encouraged the students to “get to know your patients, ground yourself, and give yourself grace to grow.” As the students are immersed in the clinical setting for the first time, they will have missteps and mistakes. “You may fail to notice something on a physical exam, forget to ask a patient a question, or completely blank on rounds,” she said.
Reflecting on her own experience in medical school, Foust said, “When I would get a question wrong, I would sometimes ruminate on it, and this negativity can lead to more mistakes. By giving myself grace, I could accept my own imperfections and focus on growing to become a better physician.”
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Class President Victoria D. Antonello speaks to her classmates at the White Coat Ceremony. |
“Congratulations to those of you who have published papers, headed up organizations, run marathons and half marathons, volunteered countless hours, overcome illness, received scholarships, created art and music, and at times continuously mustered up the courage to get out of bed and study. I know that some days even that was difficult,” said Antonello, whose mother helped her don her white coat on stage.
“Amidst the stressful weeks, challenging topics, and even disappointments, your drive, discipline, dedication to your education, and passion for medicine triumphed and brought you closer to your ultimate goal of becoming competent physicians.”
Also during the ceremony, senior medical students, residents and faculty were inducted into the USA Chapter of the Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society (GHHS). Inductees – elected by vote of medical students – were selected for practicing patient-centered medical care with integrity, compassion and altruism. They also received GHHS pins.
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| GHHS inductees pin each other during the ceremony. |
Class of 2024 Medical Students
- Arcole Sims Brandon
- Tiara Dean
- David Michael Gahan
- Carey Patrick Johnson
- Marjorie Teel Jones
- Christian Andrew Manganti
- Jessica Marie Moore
- Justin Ryan Penninger
- Lameace Ayman Sayegh
- Trentyn M. Shaw
- Claudia Paige Stephens
Residents
- Hayden Alford, M.D., Department of Surgery
- Santiago Diaz Gonzalez, M.D., Department of Neurology
- Shyla Hossain, M.D., Department of Psychiatry
- Angela Mosley-Johnson, M.D., Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Nicole Weidow, M.D., Department of Pediatrics
Faculty
- Anna Foust, M.D., Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
- Melody Petty, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
- Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Recipient: Melody Petty, M.D.
White Coat Ceremony is sponsored in part by the USA Medical Alumni Association.
