The University of Toledo welcomed new students into a variety of healthcare programs with white coat ceremonies at the beginning of the semester.
First popularized by medical schools to recognize new physicians-in-training and emphasize the importance of compassionate patient care, white coat ceremonies have been wide adopted by other health professions, including nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy and others.
Desiree Schafer receives her white coat from Dr. Mohamad Moussa, an assistant professor of emergency medicine, during the College of Medicine and Life Sciences’ July 25 ceremony for first-year medical students.
Dylan Hershey, an incoming student in UToledo’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, is helped into his new white coat on Aug. 21 by Dr. Cindy Bouillon, associate professor and director of the D.P.T. program. The College of Health and Human Services also hosted a white coat ceremony for students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program on Tuesday.
Dr. Pamela Heaton, dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, addresses students during the college’s Aug. 21 white coat ceremony.
Students in the Doctor of Pharmacy Program, Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences programs recite a professionalism pledge after receiving their white coats.
Katherine Wang, an incoming student in the Physician Assistant Program smiles as she receives her white coat from assistant professor Kim Kaczmarek during the program’s white coat ceremony on Aug. 22. Wang and her fellow students will spend the next 27 months earning their Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences degree with a physician assistant concentration.
Students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program await their moment to don their first white coat on Tuesday, Sept. 2. The School of Nursing also will host a white coat ceremony for students in the Graduate-Entry Master of Science in Nursing Program on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
