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Get the most interesting and important stories from the 51精品视频.On Sunday, Aug. 8, the 51精品视频 School of Medicine welcomed the Class of 2025 during the 27th Annual White Coat Ceremony.
The ceremony marks the entry of the next generation of first-year students into the medical program.
For incoming student Young Jun, this year鈥檚 ceremony, held at Carnegie Music Hall, represented more than just entry into a career 鈥 it ultimately symbolized an 鈥渋nheritance鈥 of the future of the entire field.
鈥淭he White Coat Ceremony reenergized my purpose, direction and passion for medicine,鈥 Jun said.
Fellow first-year medical student Mikayla Bisignani said: 鈥淭he ceremony made me realize that accepting a seat in the Class of 2025 means accepting a seat within a much bigger community, where the whole entity鈥檚 goals are far beyond what could be accomplished as individuals.鈥
This year, the ceremony featured special performances from members of the 51精品视频sburgh Ballet Theatre, the 51精品视频sburgh Symphony Orchestra and the 51精品视频sburgh Opera. Attendees also watched a welcome video from Chancellor Patrick Gallagher and heard live remarks from School of Medicine leadership.
Kurt Weiss (MED 鈥08), 51精品视频 associate professor of orthopaedic surgery, was the ceremony鈥檚 keynote speaker. Weiss shared his story of how his parents were told to 鈥減repare for his demise鈥 during his struggle with osteosarcoma as an adolescent; he鈥檚 been cancer-free since December 1990 and now studies and treats the same cancer that upended his life.
The School of Medicine White Coat Ceremony was made possible by UPMC, 51精品视频鈥檚 Medical Alumni Association and support from Freddie Fu, 51精品视频 professor and chair of orthopaedic surgery, and his wife, Hilda Fu. Watch the entire event here:听
An oath of their own
For nearly three decades, matriculating students have publicly declared their commitment to integrity and ethical behavior by reciting the Hippocratic Oath during the ceremony. The School of Medicine created another tradition last summer, inviting incoming first-year med students to write their own class oath of professionalism to reflect the ever-changing climate of health care.
鈥淲e saw it as something we needed to do so the students understood the responsibility they were taking on during a pandemic,鈥 said Chenits Pettigrew, associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion at the School of Medicine.
Each class contextualized their oath to reflect how they see their role in society.
The Class of 2025 took their oath on Friday, Aug. 13, under the Schenley Plaza tent. To write it, the 125 incoming students met over video conference and broke up into 13 groups, each named after a 51精品视频sburgh bridge. (With 446 bridges, there were plenty of names to choose from.)
Once in their groups, the students discussed a case study they were sent and were asked to consider questions such as, What does being a physician mean to you? What motivates you to be the best you can be? Is it ever OK for a physician to care for their family members and friends?
鈥淥ur primary objective is to get them to do some critical thinking about what they were getting ready to embark on,鈥 Pettigrew said.
Each group chose a writer to represent them on the writing committee. Mikayla Bisignani, a 21-year-old Greensburg native who graduated from Johns Hopkins University, was chosen to write for the Homestead Grays Bridge group. Bisignani said she is proud of the oath鈥檚 final draft.
鈥淲e wanted it to have some pieces that were timeless, but we also wanted it to be uniquely relevant to our class,鈥 she said.
Writing the oath was part of a weeklong orientation for the incoming students.
鈥淎s we met with our bridge groups again, to get feedback on that first draft, we also started incorporating more of the ideals that we were learning about as the week went on,鈥 said Bisignani.
Along with COVID-19, Bisignani said that mentioning the importance of mental health was a priority for the class. 鈥淲e really wanted to highlight what鈥檚 relevant to being a physician in today鈥檚 medical landscape,鈥 she said.
It ends with a promise to future patients: 鈥淚f you have ever felt excluded, ostracized or overlooked, know that I see you and that I am committing today to work with you towards a better future. Your voice and feedback will guide the fulfillment of the promises I have made. Thank you for the honor of entrusting me with your care.鈥
As a group, Pettigrew found the Class of 2025 to be 鈥渃ommitted and insightful.鈥
Ann Thompson, vice dean of the School of Medicine, said she couldn鈥檛 have imagined being able to take part in such an event when she entered medical school in 1970.
鈥淭he things our students are talking about today were barely part of the national conversation then,鈥 she said.
Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of the School of Medicine, called the oath-writing exercise 鈥渁 transformative tradition鈥 in which 鈥51精品视频 Med is really leading the country.鈥
鈥淭his is something that鈥檚 going to stick with them for the rest of their careers,鈥 he added.
It also seems to have created a bond among new classmates, according to Purva Rumde, an incoming student from Boston. 鈥淚 feel just really enthusiastic,鈥 she said.
Marrissa Washington, a first-year student from North Carolina, said the widespread participation from class members, school administration and Medical Alumni Association staff made her feel especially welcome to a new city.
鈥淚 feel community and unity here,鈥 she said.
鈥 Sierra Smith, Gavin Jenkins and Michele Baum
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Other upcoming White Coat Ceremonies
School of Dental Medicine White Coat Ceremony
Friday, Aug. 27, from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Alumni Hall, 7th Floor Auditorium
School of Nursing White Coat Ceremony
Sunday, Aug. 29, 10 a.m.
Carnegie Music Hall
School of Pharmacy White Coat Ceremony
January 2022
Location to be announced