Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) welcomed 104first-year students to its ranks during the annual White Coat ceremony, held July 26 in Langford Auditorium.
The ceremony came at the end of the introductory course, Foundations of the Profession, which gave students an understanding of the values and principles that guide a physician’s relationship with society and patients.
“It’s official; all of you have passed this first course. You are all medical students now, and that’s something to be celebrated,” said Donald Brady, MD, Executive Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Executive Vice President for Educational and Medical Staff Affairs. “As you go through your training, you’ll learn that you have to bring your whole self every day — your skills, talents, attributes, life experiences — they are all important to who you are as a physician and will help you better care for your patients.”
Brady spoke on several themes. He highlighted transformation, both from a professional identity perspective and the rapid and ongoing advances in science and technology, and also the importance of gratitude, particularly for their patients.
“Physicians must care about their patients and must constantly improve their scientific knowledge about disease. To care and not know is dangerous. To know and not care is even worse. Caring and knowing must be combined in order to succeed. I can’t wait to see you succeed.”
The 104 members of the class include 88 MD, 15 Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) and one oral and maxillofacial surgery student. The first-year class was selected from a pool of more than 6,800 applicants. The students who successfully matriculated to VUSM come from 29 states, six foreign countries and 63 undergraduate schools with 57 majors.
The donors, who financially support a number of medical student activities, come from 350 households across 39 states, Brady said. The oldest donor this year is from the VUSM class of 1946.
Co-chairs of the admissions committee responsible for selecting the class, Ban Allos, MD, and Luke Finck, EdD, MA, read the names of the students as they received their white coats, assisted by Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and dean of VUSM, Brady, Consuelo Wilkins, MD, MSCI, Senior Vice President for Health Equity and Inclusive Excellence at VUMC, Bill Cutrer, MD, MEd, senior associate dean of Undergraduate Medical Education, Amy Fleming, MD MScHPE, senior associate dean of Medical Student and Alumni Affairs, and Kim Vinson, MD, associate dean for Diversity Affairs.
After receiving their white coats, the first-year students, along with their advisory college mentors, recited the “Oath for Teachers and Learners of Medicine at Vanderbilt,” before heading to a reception with their family and friends.