The White Coat Ceremony is every aspiring medical student’s dream. It is the culmination of all your hard work, marking the start of your official medical training. Basically, it’s kind of a big deal.
If you’re as nervous and excited for your White Coat Ceremony as I was, you probably want to know every detail about what to expect when the big day arrives so you can walk onto that stage fully prepared. That’s why I’ve put together this White Coat Ceremony walkthrough to guide you through the process and hopefully ease some of those pre-ceremony jitters.
This post is all about answering what is a white coat ceremony.
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Med School 101: What is a White Coat Ceremony
When Is the White Coat Ceremony?
You might be tempted to think that medical students only receive their first white coats when they’re fully ready to enter the world of medicine. But, is the White Coat Ceremony before or after medical school? The answer is actually right at the beginning of medical school! Since it symbolizes your transition into official medical training, the ceremony takes place at the very beginning of your first year of medical school.
My ceremony took place right before I started my first week of classes. You can expect your ceremony to probably be scheduled during your orientation week, but you can also search “When does the White Coat Ceremony happen at [your school]?” for more specific information.
Who Gets a White Coat Ceremony?
Most medical professions receive a White Coat Ceremony. Whether you are a nursing student or training to be a physician’s assistant, your school will most likely honor your transition from pre-med to healthcare training with a ceremony.
All members of the healthcare field do necessary work, so it’s important to acknowledge as many future healthcare workers as possible with these ceremonies.
Is the White Coat Ceremony a Big Deal?
The White Coat Ceremony is a pretty big deal. It’s basically like a graduation from pre-med, a commemoration of the start of your medical career, and an official acknowledgement of all the hard work it took to make it to medical school in the first place all wrapped up in one event.
And, for those who have their ceremony toward the start of orientation, it might be your first chance to meet your peers and the faculty in your program.
If you’re not sure what outfit to pick for your White Coat Ceremony, you can’t go wrong with wearing business casual. Just make sure you also choose something breathable, especially for outdoor ceremonies. I ended up going with a black romper that really made my white coat pop!
A Quick History of the White Coat Ceremony
The White Coat Ceremony has become such a staple of the medical school experience that most people probably think it’s been around for centuries. But, in reality, 2024 is only the 31st anniversary of its invention!
How This Tradition Actually Began
The first ever White Coat Ceremony took place in 1993 at Columbia University. Dr. Arnold P. Gold, a professor of Clinical Neurology and Clinical Pediatrics, created the ceremony as a way to initiate students into the world of medicine. In his mind, waiting all the way until graduation to finally recite the Hippocratic Oath just didn’t make sense. Students should understand their commitment to patient care from the very start of their medical training, and the White Coat Ceremony represents the acceptance of that responsibility.
Over the past 31 years, the Gold Foundation has helped expand the White Coat Ceremony to reach medical schools around the globe. Today, nearly all AAMC-accredited medical schools in the United States hold this ceremony or a similar rite of passage. The ceremony also takes place at schools in at least 20 other countries worldwide.
Have You Ever Wondered “Why the White Coats?”
When you picture someone in the medical profession, the first thing you imagine is probably a white coat. The famous white coat has been associated with the medical field for hundreds of years, dating all the way back to the late 19th century when it became the standard attire for physicians.
Believe it or not, most physicians actually wore black attire before the transition to white because it was considered to be more formal. But, as the medical field gradually restructured to center wholly around lab science and the importance of cleanliness, white coats finally took over. Now, the white coat symbolizes several fundamental aspects of working in medicine: authority, professionalism, and, most importantly, compassion.
The white coat students receive at their ceremonies is a shorter coat, indicating that they are still at the start of their journey. By the end of medical school, every student hopes to finally have the honor of donning the long white coat that marks their readiness to uphold the highest standards of care for their patients.
What to Expect at Your White Coat Ceremony
The White Coat Ceremony looks a little different at every school because each one has its own unique rituals and traditions.
At my ceremony, for example, we each had our own moment to don our coats and receive our stethoscopes while onstage. It was an amazing moment to share with both my family and my peers. I even got to go for a round of high fives when I came offstage!
No matter where you attend school, here are a few core activities you can expect from your White Coat Ceremony.
Listening to Speeches
The actual White Coat Ceremony itself is usually framed by speeches from faculty, guest speakers, and sometimes even students.
The excitement and nerves can make it hard to focus during the speeches, but I recommend doing your best to drink in every word you can. Each speech will be filled with life lessons and valuable advice for the journey ahead that you probably won’t be able to find anywhere else.
Reciting Oaths
Reciting the Hippocratic Oath is a fundamental part of practically every White Coat Ceremony, but some ceremonies may include other oaths and pledges as well.
For instance, there are specific oaths that correspond to certain healthcare professions. So, a PA White Coat Ceremony might include a different oath than a White Coat Ceremony for nurses.
Or, some schools might ask students to write their own oaths to recite in addition to the official ones. It really all depends on the school and the program you’re in.
Symbolic Traditions
Actually putting on your coat may not be the only symbolic gesture in your White Coat Ceremony. Like I said, I also received a stethoscope after I put on my coat.
Students in other programs or aspiring to different fields and professions might receive a piece of equipment that is more specific to their pursuits.
Opportunities for Reflection
The White Coat Ceremony is the perfect moment to celebrate everything you’ve accomplished so far and embrace this new phase of your life. For me, the ceremony happened at the tail-end of my orientation week AKA the Friday right before my classes started.
After the whirlwind of orientation, the White Coat Ceremony truly felt surreal. It took years of hard work to get to that stage, and it’s only the start of a lot more hard work to come. My advice is to take that opportunity to absorb as much wisdom as possible and, most importantly, let yourself be excited for the future!
Getting to Know the Community
Orientation is a lot to handle, so it’s normal if you haven’t made many friends in your program before you head into your White Coat Ceremony.
In fact, the ceremony itself is great for meeting people because it really makes you feel like part of the community. Reciting the oaths with your peers is a unifying experience, and you might run into people you haven’t had the opportunity to meet yet during orientation.
My dad practically befriended my entire class for me by chatting with every person he saw at my ceremony. But even if you don’t have a chatty dad on your side, there are tons of people there who are in the same boat as you and excited to make friends, so don’t be afraid to say hi!
White Coat Ceremony FAQs
Still nervous about your ceremony? Don’t worry – I have the answers to all your questions!
How Long Is a White Coat Ceremony?
The length of a White Coat Ceremony usually depends on the size of the class. With a smaller class, you might be looking at around an hour, while larger classes may take up to an hour and a half or two hours.
Most ceremonies will also include a reception for family and friends afterward, which can extend for a few more hours.
Who Will Put on Your Coat?
Again, different schools have different traditions when it comes to the nitty-gritty details of the White Coat Ceremony. Some may allow students to choose the person who bestows their coat, while others will have designated presenters.
You can count on your presenter to be someone from your discipline, though.
What about white coat ceremony gifts?
Especially if you are attending someone else’s White Coat Ceremony, this might be a big question hopping into your head. Should I get a gift? A meaningful gift definitely shows how proud you are of them and makes this rite of passage even more memorable for them.
I got this cute beige tote bag as a gift for my ceremony and every time I use it (which is a lot!) I have to think back to that day and how special it was for me.
Final thoughts on what a white coat ceremony actually is
Now, you have all the information you need to make your White Coat Ceremony the amazing memory it should be. Walk on that stage with confidence and show the world (and yourself) that you’re ready to tackle the next phase of your journey toward success. You got this!
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