White Coat Ceremony

On Saturday, Brian and his classmates participated in a ceremony that has become a part of every first-year med students' experience since Columbia University held the first White Coat Ceremony in 1993.

"...the purpose of the ceremony is to clarify for students, prior to their entrance into the medical community, that a physician's responsibility is to both take care of patients and also to care for patients..."

All photos: Laura Blank, 2011

Oath of Student Responsibilities

 I acknowledge and accept the privileges and responsibilities given to me today as a physician-in-training and dedicate myself to learning to provide care to those in need.

I will approach all aspects of my education with honesty and integrity, embracing opportunities to learn from patients, teachers, and colleagues.  The diversity of their experiences, cultures, and beliefs will enrich my education and my ability to care for patients.  When I feel unprepared for new responsibilities, I will acknowledge my limitations and seek guidance.

I will respect the humanity, rights, and decisions of all patients and will attend to them with compassion and without bias.  I will maintain patient confidentiality and be tactful in my words and actions.  I will not forget that there is an art to medicine as well as a science and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding are integral to patient care.

 I recognize the privileges afforded to me as a physician-in-training and promise note to abuse them.  I will strive to earn the trust my patients place in me and the respect that society places upon my profession.  As a student, I will seek to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for individual patient care, the capacity to prevent illness, and the means to improve my community's health standards.

As I accept these new responsibilities, I will not forget the importance of my own health and well-being.  I will continue to value my relationships with those who have supported me in the past and those who will share my future.

Knowing my own limitations and those of medicine, I commit myself to a lifelong journey of learning how to cure, relieve, and comfort with humility and compassion.

I felt the power behind those words as I listened to the wide-eyed students recite this oath in front of family, friends, spouses, and professions with decades of hands-on experience caring for patients here and around the world.  And I was reminded of the incredible example of humility and compassion I have in my own mother and father who have lived their lives dedicated to helping others through their health care professions.  What a privilege to see first-hand the blessings and the challenges of medicine.  Thank you, Mom and Dad! We love you. And so proud of you, B! (You can see the rest of the photos here).

Dean William Roper, Dean of UNC School of Medicine