The "White Coat Ceremony," at which newly enrolled students in the School of Medicine receive their traditional doctors' coats, was held Aug. 31 on the lawn of the Edward S. Harkness Dormitory, 367 Cedar St.
The deans of the individual medical school departments put the coats, sometimes referred to as "cloaks of compassion," on each student. Medical School Dean David Kessler officiated at the ceremony, which was attended by friends and family.
The white coat, explained Dr. Nancy Angoff, associate dean of student affairs and an internist who specializes in treating persons with HIV and AIDS, was first used in the late 18th century to prevent contamination during surgery. Over the years, it became the symbol of purity and life.
"Our students come here with maturity, compassion, sincerity, dedication, and an understanding of what it means to be humane. They also have an understanding of vulnerability," said Angoff, who spoke at the ceremony. "The significance of the ceremony is to call attention to those values and attitudes. We want the students to remember them and live them as long as they can."
In her speech, Angoff told the students to remember their vulnerability and the value of the human connection as they begin their medical careers. "You'll learn the statistics, you'll be able to speak the speak," she said. "But don't forget the human element, the patient's story. The knowledge and trappings of medicine are important, but so are compassion and being human."
Kessler urged the students to remember that when they put on their white coats, they will be sought out and respected by people in need. "Each of them," he said, "needs to be touched and treated."
During the ceremony the 105 students also recited the medical school's Human Relations Code of Conduct.
The incoming class is among the strongest academically in the medical school's history. The 105 students have an average G.P.A. of over 3.7 after completing majors and, in many cases, double majors, at 46 colleges, among them Yale, Harvard, Princeton and Stanford.
The doctors-in-training also have accomplished much outside of academia. They are community leaders and successful entrepreneurs, published authors and highly re-garded young research scientists. Some are talented musicians and artists, and others are outstanding athletes.
The Class of 2003 is global and diverse. Forty-four percent of the new students are women. Fifteen students are African American, 11 are Hispanic, and 22 are Asian American. The class is drawn from over 17 countries: Canada, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Kenya, Korea, Mexico, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Taiwan, the Ukraine and the United States.
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