2012 White Coat Ceremony

The 2012 White Coat Ceremony was held on July 21 in the Exhibit Hall at Will Rogers Auditorium. It is a "rite of passage" for health science center students that encourages a psychological contract for professionalism and empathy. The event emphasizes the importance of the foundational mission of the institution: education, research, patient care and service.

The white coat is a symbolic, non-verbal communication used to express and reaffirm a fundamental belief in a system that society observes. The authority of dress is serious and purposeful, not social, casual or random. The dress of healers of primitive societies was an important part of the paraphernalia of healing. The uniform should imply a purely professional interest. It must convey to even the most anxious a sense of seriousness and purpose that helps provide reassurance and confidence that his/her complaints will be dealt with competently and seriously. It is a cloak of compassion.

You can preserve the moment through pictures taken during the ceremony. These pictures can be viewed here.

New as of August 17!!! You can now order a DVD of the White Coat Ceremony.

You can download an order form here.

View pictures from this Spring's Awards, Hoodings, and Commencement ceremonies.