OU-COM's White Coat Ceremony Marks Transition of
Student Doctors into Clinical Phase of Medical Education
Editor's Note: For more information, please contact Kevin Sanders, writer/editor, at (740) 593-0896.
ATHENS, Ohio (August 11, 2000) -- On Aug. 18, 91 third-year Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-COM) students will don white coats to mark their transition into the clinical phase of their osteopathic education.
The 91 students, who are in the Class of 2002, will participate in the White Coat Ceremony, to be held at 5:30 p.m. at Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium on Ohio University's Athens' campus. The ceremony begins the clinical phase -- student interaction, under faculty supervision, with patients -- of their medical education.
The evening's program includes a student pledge of commitment, keynote address and recognition of alumni and faculty. A reception is held prior to the program for family and friends.
John Brose, D.O., OU-COM assistant dean for clinical research and professor of family medicine, will be the keynote speaker and is to bring an inspirational message to the students about their responsibility to their communities that they serve as future physicians and as student physicians. Barbara Ross-Lee, D.O., dean of the college, will host the ceremony. Students, parents, staff, faculty and friends of the college are invited, said Sharon Zimmerman, director of alumni affairs. About 800 people are expected.
During the ceremony, osteopathic physicians from the college, the local community and the state will help students put on their white coats, symbolic of the profession's support of the educational process, as well as the students' acceptance of the great responsibility and commitment necessary to move into their clinical education.
"The practice of medicine is a tremendous responsibility," said Ross-Lee. "The White Coat Ceremony is our way of demonstrating to students that it is a privilege to be involved in patient care, as well as a great responsibility."
According to Ross-Lee, the White Coat Ceremony helps fill the long period between the convocation -- held for incoming freshman medical students -- and their graduation ceremony four years later. "The event," she said, "is not a farewell to campus and classroom studies but a message to students to carry on the OU-COM tradition as they continue their studies in the professional arena.
"The educational process in our profession is really a collaboration between the college, the community of osteopathic physicians and hospitals in Ohio."
In addition to the keynote speaker, Michael Adelman, D.P.M., D.O., associate dean of academic affairs, will recognize master clinical faculty from around the state, and Joni Koren, D.O. ('84), OU-COM clinical professor, will recognize adjunct faculty with 15 years of service.
The introduction of students will be by Barbara Bennett, D.O. ('84), president OU-COM Society of Alumni and Friends, and Robert Juhasz, D.O., president of the Ohio Osteopathic Association. Lori Stuart will lead her fellow third-year students in the student pledge.
