White Coat Ceremony

A Tradition of Excellence & Compassion

Every year, the NYMC School of Medicine (SOM) celebrates a defining moment in a medical student's journey – the White Coat Ceremony. Established by the esteemed Arnold P. Gold Foundation, this significant rite of passage underscores the intrinsic values of humanism, compassionate care, and scientific excellence right from the outset of a student's medical education.

More Than Just a Coat

For our first-year medical students, donning their white coat is more than a ceremonial gesture; it is a symbolic embrace of the responsibilities and commitment inherent to the medical profession. Supervised by NYMC deans and faculty members, these aspiring doctors wear their white coats for the first time, marking the commencement of a lifelong journey in medicine. This deeply moving ceremony unfolds in the presence of their loved ones, creating memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Taking the Oath

The ceremony concludes with the recitation of an oath – a unique pledge drafted by the students themselves. This oath embodies the qualities they believe to be paramount in a physician, reinforcing the importance of empathy, ethics, and excellence.

You can watch past white coat ceremonies on SOM's YouTube Channel.