Receiving a white coat is an iconic rite of passage for a doctor-in-training. On Jan. 11, the University of Queensland (UQ) Ochsner Clinical School held its 10th annual White Coat Ceremony at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center in Metairie.
During the ceremony, 116 doctors-in-training received their White Coats and were presented with Humanism in Medicine pins – a visual reminder displayed on the lapel of each white coat to remind students to keep compassion and empathy at the center of clinical practice.
Susan T. Hingle, MD, FAMWA, FRCP, MACP, associate dean for human and organization potential and professor of medicine at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, served at the keynote speaker. The ceremony concluded with a recitation of the Oath of Clinical Students, which serves as the official start to the second phase of the UQ Ochsner Medical Degree program focused on clinical experiences.
“Receiving a White Coat is a physical reminder of the oath these students have taken to serve, to heal, to lead, to educate, and to innovate for their patients – each and every day. It is a privilege for our exceptional faculty at UQ Ochsner Clinical School to play a role in shaping the next generation of physicians,” said Ronald Amedee, MD, dean of medical education and University of Queensland, head of Ochsner Clinical School.