<p>While back there was a thread about invitations to White Coat ceremonies which sparked a general conversation about them. I thought it might be interesting to have a topic to share experiences, thoughts, and ideas about them.</p>
<p>Last Friday FirstToGo had her white coat ceremony. I thought it sounded like a feel good ceremony for helicopter parents but of course I'd go to to support my daughter. Boy was I wrong ... it was fantastic. Some observations.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>As I said I had very low expectations</p></li>
<li><p>During the ceremony it was explained the first white coat ceremony in the US was in 1993 and that they quickly spread to other schools.</p></li>
<li><p>The speakers were amazing and incredibly intelligent and articulate</p></li>
<li><p>When each student received their white coat and stethoscope they introduced themselves. The students, including the very shy ones and non-native-English one, were incredibly poised and articulate.</p></li>
<li><p>The school seems like a great fit for FirstToGo and seems to have the resources, support, energy, community for give her the chance to be the best she can be. I could not be more excited for her.</p></li>
<li><p>I faint at the sight if blood and by the end of the ceremony I was ready to run through walls to become a doctor.</p></li>
<li><p>Finally, my little girl started the ceremony and I swear after she put on the coat she became a mature young women. (Apparently the advisers told the students the parents would see them differently)</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Clearly it was an (unexpected) great experience for my family. What about all of you? What was your day like?</p>
<p>Well, D2’s was my second ride on the White Coat rodeo so while it was deeply moving, I knew what to expect and I kind of liked D1’s White Coat better. (The speakers were more compelling for D1’s. I will admit I sniffled through most of D1’s ceremony. So did my companion at the ceremony who was: 1) male, 2) a veteran and 3) not related in any way to my kidlets.) This is year is the 50th anniversary of the inaugural class at the medical school and there were two speakers who were part of that first class of 16 students. (One is still practicing at age 78!!!.) </p>
<p>But what brought a lump to my throat at D2’s ceremony is when the new MS1s stood to swear the Oath of Apollo and the Dean of Medicine invited all physicians in the audience to stand and renew their oath too and D1 stood to join her sister. That made me tear up. I am so proud of both them. </p>
<p>D2’s school started early. Orientation happened over a month ago. She’s deep into anatomy. (Has had 4 weekly quizzes and her first exam already.) I asked her the other day if she was happy with her decision(s) because it’s something she struggled over–and she is, both with her decision to pursue medicine instead of a PhD and with her choice of school. She has a tremendous support system in place and is busy reconnecting with some old friends–some of whom are also med students in the classes ahead of her. She likes her classmates and she likes the city. She likes biking to class every day in the beautiful sunshine and being able to get out of town and into the mountains/wild places when she has a day or two off.</p>
<p>WOWM, my nephew decided to go the PhD route instead of the MD, and he regrets it! He wants to establish programs for healthy eating/living for kids, and now he’s being told he would have more credibility with an MD. He is currently doing research in Sweden, so it will be interesting to see if he chooses to go back for an MD.</p>
<p>My daughters white coat two years ago was much later than all I have heard on here. It was in the middle of September…a beautiful New England weekend. The ceremony was in a beautiful chapel at the UG. My mom came from AZ as my date…I had my daughter on my own, so having my mom there was special, 3 generations of just us girls. I patted myself on the back…I did good! :"> </p>
<p>This school did the same thing. For about 150 students about 50 people in the audience a;so stood to retake the oath along with the new students … including 2 or 3 families where both parents were docs. And yes, the oath was a major time for parental sniffling in the audience!</p>
<p>What was also very cool, is that’s a set of brothers in D2’s class. The boys are 5 years apart in age and the younger was D2’s lab/homework partner for all her science/math classes in high school.</p>
<p>The students were allowed to line in any order for the ceremony and just handed a card with their name to the announcer before walking onto the stage. D2’s former study partner and his brother were the very last to be announced with the younger brother handing both cards to the speaker and asking please could they be announced together? They received their coats at the same time, helped each put them on, walked across the stage together and had their “beauty shot” photo with Dean of the Medical School taken together-- each flanking the Dean. </p>
<p>D;s white coat ceremony in August was a very moving event. The auditorium was full of parents, siblings, grandparents and friends of the new med students. The students recited an oath and in return the professors recited their oath to the students. The speakers were alternatively funny and wise. </p>
<p>Being small and more personal, it was a much better event than the college graduation just a few months before. </p>
<p>At the time it felt awesome, like some sort of rite of passage or something.
In retrospect it just seems silly. It’s just something to make MS1s feel important.</p>
<p>It was only a year ago, when S had his White Coat Ceremony. Much of the ceremony was as others here have described, a mention of the origin of the ceremony, and excellent keynote speakers. A couple of awards were given to amazing grads who had done wonderful, charitable things. One award recipient was in 3rd world country volunteering so his award acceptance speech was “live” but it was broadcasted onto a very large screen. I do like the idea of each student “introducing him/herself” as mentioned above…maybe that idea should be shared with other schools!! </p>
<p>At one point, the parents were asked to stand up and we all were “congratulated” for having done a great job raising these students. At another point, all the physicians in the room were asked to stand, and it appeared that many students had at least one physician parent. </p>
<p>It was an excellent weekend. My son’s Godparents (my bro and SIL) had flown out on Friday to share the weekend. We were also joined by S’s long-time GF and her parents. On Saturday, the evening before WC, the Alumni Club hosted a big dinner for family/guests and there were a couple of short welcoming speeches that night. It was mostly a social event so they minimized the speech aspect. There was also a tour of the med school, the med center, and the children’s hospital which were all just steps away. Then WC was the next early-afternoon, and then a reception was hosted afterwards. S’s med school is a very social bunch…but it is in the South, so that may be why. </p>