• Education

White Coat Ceremony Marks Start of Medical School at UCSF

The UCSF School of Medicine’s Class of 2016 participated in the annual rite of passage for physicians: donning white coats, the official start of their medical training.

During the Sept. 7 White Coat Ceremony before family, friends and fellow classmates at UCSF, the first-year students took a vow to maintain professional attitudes and behaviors in work and in relationships with their peers, teachers, patients and the community.

Back-to-School 2012

Books on the shelf

Sam Hawgood, MBBS, dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and vice chancellor for medical affairs, welcomed the students to the top-ranked medical school.

"We want you to have fun during your training," he said. "We also expect you to work harder and smarter than you've perhaps ever imagined. We ask you to open your minds to everything we can teach you.

"In return for all this hard work, we commit to prepare you to face the many challenges you will encounter as a physician with courage, confidence, skill and humanity. You will have the joy of working with outstanding teachers and the fun of using some of the best resources educational science and technology has to offer."

A multi-talented bunch, this year’s entering medical students represent 16 countries of birth, ranging from Australia to Zimbabwe. They also:

  • Play the drums, violin, viola, piano, clarinet, flute, saxophone, bass, guitar, ukulele, oud, pipa, banjo, and harpsichord.
  • Dance ballet, jazz, tap, ballroom, salsa, and hip hop.

  • Perform either by acting, singing in musical theater, cracking jokes as stand-up comedians, and practice a number of different types of martial arts (kung fu, muy thai, bujinkan budo taijutsu, and karate).

  • Play soccer, water polo, crew, fencing, track and field, ultimate Frisbee, tennis, football, table tennis, hockey, lacrosse, field hockey, figure skating, and squash.


And they have wide-ranging work experiences as former Peace Corps members, Teach for America teachers, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute interns.

Prior to being admitted to medical school, they served as mentors, teachers, volunteer firefighters, EMTs, scribes, navy pilots, river rafting guides, cake decorators, and vineyard workers.

First-year medical students, from left, Kent Feng, Tuyen Kiet and Matthew Dizon, pose for a picture after the White Coat Ceremony at UCSF.
First-year medical students, from left, Kent Feng, Tuyen Kiet and Matthew Dizon, pose for a picture after the White Coat Ceremony at UCSF.
First-year medical students take an oath while family and friends look on with pride inside the Millberry Union Gymnasium.
First-year medical students take an oath while family and friends look on with pride inside the Millberry Union Gymnasium.
First-year medical school students.
Prior to going to medical school, first-year students served as mentors, teachers, volunteer firefighters, EMTs, scribes, navy pilots, river rafting guides, cake decorators, and vineyard workers.
Nancy Ascher, MD, PhD, chair of the UCSF Department of Surgery, offers words of wisdom to the newly admitted medical students.
Nancy Ascher, MD, PhD, chair of the UCSF Department of Surgery, offers words of wisdom to the newly admitted medical students.
UCSF's first-year medical students in auditorium.
UCSF's first-year medical students hail from 16 countries, from Australia to Zimbabwe.
Members of the Class of 2016 show their enthusiasm during the White Coat Ceremony at UCSF.
Members of the Class of 2016 show their enthusiasm during the White Coat Ceremony at UCSF.
Catherine Lucey, MD, vice dean of education, and Dean Hawgood congratulates a new medical student.
Catherine Lucey, MD, vice dean of education, and Dean Hawgood congratulates a new medical student as she embarks on her journey to become a physician.
Sam Hawgood, MBBS, dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and vice chancellor for medical affairs, greets first-year medical students and their families.
Sam Hawgood, MBBS, dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and vice chancellor for medical affairs, greets first-year medical students and their families.
The UCSF School of Medicine Class of 2016 get ready to receive their first white coats at the annual rite of passage marking the start of medical training.
The UCSF School of Medicine Class of 2016 get ready to receive their first white coats at the annual rite of passage marking the start of medical training.
Anoop Muniyappa, left, with Alamelu Nates, both students in the UC Berkeley-UCSF joint medical program, adjusts his first white coat and name tag before the Sept. 7 White Coat Ceremony at UCSF.
Anoop Muniyappa, left, with Alamelu Nates, both students in the UC Berkeley-UCSF joint medical program, adjusts his first white coat and name tag before the Sept. 7 White Coat Ceremony at UCSF.

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