VTCSOM Class of 2028 White Coat Ceremony

There's much to celebrate today, and we hope that each of our students will take a deep breath, appreciate the importance of this moment, and feel the joy of this occasion. The purpose of this ceremony is to clarify for students that a physician's responsibility is to both take care of patients, but to also for patients. Patients are going to see you in a white coat, and they will immediately trust you. They are going to trust you the most intimate details of their lives, and you will care for them when they are often at their most vulnerable. It doesn't matter whether you have earned that trust or not. They will see you in that coat, and they will instantly think that you and your words are important. Remember, with this coat comes responsibility. Every time you put it on, let it be a reminder, not just of your expertise, but of your empathy and the responsibility you have to care for each patient with thoughtfulness and respect. We have a moral obligation to advocate for ourselves and others. To honor this, we dedicate ourselves to upholding social justice, reform, and health equity, while simultaneously breaking down barriers to health care. We stand by this commitment to our patients through active listening and thoughtful questions. We pledge to uphold the values of service, inclusivity, and respect in all the places where we work, live, and learn. We commit to embodying the university motto, But Pros, that I may serve. On behalf of all the physicians here today, it is with great pride and abundant expectations that I formally welcome the Virginia Tech lian School of Medicine Class of 2028 to our profession.