KU School of Medicine class of 2030 begins new academic journey at White Coat Ceremony
Following a week of orientation and introductions, 211 incoming students marked the beginning of their careers in medicine.
This afternoon, 211 new students at the University of Kansas School of Medicine took an important step on their academic journey. Donning their white coats for the first time, the School of Medicine’s class of 2030 took the profession’s Oath of Commitment as part of today’s White Coat Ceremony.
Spread over three campuses, there are 175 new students in Kansas City, eight in Salina and 28 in Wichita. While 78% of the incoming students have ties to Kansas, the students hail from 18 different states and 75 different undergraduate colleges and universities. Their interests are broad, as they have 66 different undergraduate majors, and one student has a doctoral degree in pharmacy.
This week began with a grand welcome broadcast to the students on all three campuses of KU School of Medicine. The week culminated in today’s ceremony; speakers included the school’s executive dean, Akinlolu Ojo, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, and a keynote address by Deborah Alliston, M.D., clinical associate professor of pediatrics in Wichita. Alliston was the recipient of this year’s Rainbow Award, which is the most prestigious award bestowed by KU medical students on faculty members.
In his remarks, Executive Vice Chancellor of KU Medical Center Steven Stites, M.D., brought out his original stethoscope — the one he has had with him since he began his own medical training. He said the white coat the students received today is another important piece of equipment.
“I hope you wear your white coat with honor and humility,” Stites said. “Let it be a daily reminder to take care of yourselves, to lean on each other when things get tough and to always treat your patients with the dignity they deserve.”
Before the ceremony, students learned about the curriculum and student services while also discussing compliance issues and logistics. Students on each campus engaged in community service projects and team-building exercises to learn more about their classmates, faculty members and the Kansas communities where they will live and study.
Today’s White Coat Ceremony was held at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, with family and friends in attendance. In a recognized symbol of the profession of medicine, the students received their white coats as they crossed the stage and their name was announced.
son Andrew receive his white coat. Andrew’s father, grandfather
and brother are all KU School of Medicine graduates.
Then, each student received a pin representing one of eight academic societies, took the Oath of Commitment to the profession and signed the Honor Code Book.
Following the event’s closing remarks by Mark Meyer, M.D., senior associate dean of student affairs, the students filed outside to meet with their family and friends.
Kira McGrown from Wichita reflected on her journey to medical school. “I researched medical schools for two years,” she said. “I graduated high school a year early and took a gap year so I could be prepared. I worked at a family medicine clinic and worked with third-year medical students in their rotation.”
Another Wichita student, Jennifer Fernandez, was a part of KU School of Medicine’s Urban Scholars program, which provides mentorship, job shadowing and academic preparation for medical school. “I shadowed family physicians and got to see what practicing that kind of medicine would be like,” she said. “I think I will probably follow that path.”