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December 28, 2008
VCOM holds annual White Coat Ceremony
More than 1,200 were in attendance Dec. 5 for the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine's sixth White Coat Ceremony in Burruss Hall at Virginia Tech to watch 188 VCOM students from the Class of 2012 cloaked with their first white coats. |
The Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine's sixth White Coat Ceremony was held Dec. 5 in Burruss Hall on the campus of Virginia Tech.
More than 1,200 faculty, family members and guests viewed the ceremony as 188 VCOM students from the Class of 2012 were cloaked with their first white coats.
Students also received the "Humanism in Medicine" pin, donated by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, and a stethoscope engraved with their name, donated by the Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association.
The ceremony included a speech by Dr. Barbara Walker, first vice president of the American Osteopathic Association and VCOM's Adopt a Campus representative, about the significance of the white coat and about the humanistic care of patients.
Doctors of osteopathic medicine and the osteopathic medical students also recited the Osteopathic Oath. Class of 2012 students were supported by select VCOM upperclassmen, who participated in the ceremony.
Dr. Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, dean and vice president for academic affairs, discussed the purpose of the White Coat Ceremony and tied the theme of this ceremony, which is held on more than 100 medical school campuses, to VCOM's values: professionalism, duty, critical thinking compassion, integrity, patient-centered care, knowledge, altruism.
Tooke-Rawlins also identified the need for caring and compassionate physicians in society.
"We are pleased that so many families and friends could be with us to celebrate the achievements of our first-year students," said Dr. Jim Wolfe, president of VCOM.
"We hold our ceremony in December so we can recognize the achievements of our students who successfully completed their first block of studies in the basic sciences and will now add early clinical experiences to their basic science education."
-- The Roanoke Times, Roanoke, VA, www.newrivervalley.com