It is a celebration that students on the path to a healthcare career look forward to sharing with their family and friends… the White Coat Ceremony. This time-honored tradition marked by being coated and by signing the honor code is a milestone that will be a fond remembrance for a lifetime.
Dean of the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Dr. Jeff Mercer, kicked off the event by addressing the students, “This ceremony represents a symbolic start of your professional education journey as we gather to celebrate the beginning of your transformation into professional students, and ultimately into healthcare professionals. As you will learn over time, there is no specific act or single event that marks the beginning or end of your professional development, but rather, it is a constant pursuit of excellence, integrity, respect, compassion, and continuous improvement that ultimately makes you a professional.”
The event was punctuated by the exuberant energy of Dr. David Tillman, chair of Public Health, who shared specific remarks for the students. Drawing a parallel between the movie Rebel Without a Cause starring James Dean and “the need for health professionals who are ready to take on the daunting challenge of remaking this whole healthcare enterprise.”
He continued, “We need all of you to wear these white coats with the attitude of James Dean. If you are to become the health professionals that we need, you must refuse to conform to the patterns. You must refuse to conform to the molds of the past. We need a generation of ‘rebel healers’.”
Tillman went on to ask them to refuse three molds; refuse to be a machine, refuse to aspire to be a superhero, and refuse to be ordinary. Learn what he shared with the audience and enjoy his entire address on the CPHS YouTube channel.
Following Tillman’s inspiring speech, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Class of 2027, the Master of Physician Assistant Practice Class of 2027, the Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2029, and the Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2027 were coated, and each class member signed the honor code. After each class finished walking across the stage, a foreshadowing of the next time they will take that same walk at graduation, thunderous applause and cacophonous cheers rang through the rafters of the Gilbert Craig Gore Arena.
Smiles were big and hugs were bigger after the ceremony as loved ones gathered outside to congratulate the students and capture this memory with photos to look back on in years to come and remember to be a rebel healer.
