PA Class of 2024 Celebrates White Coat Ceremony

The Class of 2024 Physician Assistant students celebrated the start of their journey into clinical medicine through the Boston University School of Medicine Physician Assistant (PA) Program at their White Coat Ceremony held March 25.

They became the ninth PA student class to don their white coats at BUSM. Having learned how to complete a history and physical exam in their first semester, students received their white coats as a symbol of their progression to the clinical phase of their education.

The students were greeted by Program Director Susan White, MD, BUSM Dean Karen Antman, MD, and addressed by John Wade Professor and Chair of Medicine David Coleman, MD.

“When you put on your white coat for the first time today, the message is not that you are expected to become a professional, but that as of today, you are now, already a professional,” Antman said. “On behalf of the faculty, welcome to the study of clinical medicine.”

“I am thrilled to join you today,” Coleman said. “This program has had such a remarkable impact on our department, our patients and the larger medical school community.

“You’re coming into a program where all of us are prepared to ‘lean in’ to help you to develop and to contribute in ways meaningful to you and to our patients … Take some joy that you now have lots of partners to help you on that journey.”

The keynote speaker was Robert Lowe, MD, associate professor of medicine/gastroenterology.

“The white coat ceremony originated in 1993 as a symbol of entering the profession,” Lowe said. “But in all your training, the coat is going to become unnecessary because you’re going to take on all the attributes of professionalism that this coat entails. So, whether you have the coat on or not, you are going to be a practicing clinician.

“Find an area of medical practice that you love to do and do it. You have that opportunity and that flexibility in the service of others,” he continued. “Hard work. Commitment. That’s what you put into it. But what do you get out of it? You get people who will be lifelong friends. You get to be challenged all the time with new developments in science, ethics, public policy.”

Following the speakers, the students were called up individually and donned their white coats. When all had received them, they recited the Physician Assistant Professional Oath, a summary statement of their professional duties and obligations.

Before the ceremony ended, students had an opportunity to listen to an unexpected guest speaker, Oren Berkowitz, PhD, MSPH, PA-C, the program’s Director of Research before he was recruited to Israel to develop the first university-based PA program. “It’s thrilling to be back and to see everyone and to see the program thriving and growing…Putting on a whitecoat for the first time, it brings up emotions in everyone. That’s going to be your uniform from now on.  Enjoy it! I wish you all great success. Congratulations.”

See the photos on Facebook.