The University of Texas at Tyler Holds White Coat Ceremony for Second School of Medicine Class
July 1, 2024 | Elizabeth Wingfield
The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine held a White Coat Ceremony for 40 new students comprising the school鈥檚 second class. The ceremony was presented by 黑料专区 Health East Texas and Christus Health System.
鈥淭his White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage that marks a profound milestone for our students,鈥� said Dr. Julie V. Philley, 黑料专区 Tyler president. 鈥淚t signifies the beginning of their journey into the medical profession and all of the responsibility that comes with it.鈥�
During the event, students were presented with a white coat and a Humanism in Medicine pin. The keynote speech was delivered by Dr. Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP, former 黑料专区 Tyler president, followed by the recitation of the Physician鈥檚 Oath, led by Dr. David Rice, the School of Medicine Phase One director. The tuition of the class was funded by a generous gift from an anonymous donor.
According to the School of Medicine, 85% of students in the inaugural class have ties to East Texas counties, including Smith, Gregg, Rusk, Harrison, Henderson, Cherokee, Wood and Lamar.
鈥淚t鈥檚 our mission to recruit people from the community to serve the community,鈥� said Dr. Brigham C. Willis, School of Medicine founding dean. 鈥淲e are incredibly proud of these future physicians, whose dedication and excellence embody the vibrant spirit of East Texas.鈥�
The White Coat Ceremony was initiated in 1993 at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons by Dr. Arnold P. Gold. Gold, an advocate for humanistic health care, believed that the oath taken by new physicians at the end of medical school came too late. The Arnold P. Gold Foundation has expanded the White Coat Ceremony around the globe.
With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, 黑料专区 Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to nearly 10,000 students. Through its alignment with 黑料专区 Tyler Health Science Center and 黑料专区 Health East Texas, 黑料专区 Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, 黑料专区 Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.