The School of Dental Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, and School of Veterinary Medicine marked the start of the semester with white coat ceremonies for their students.
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The Class of 2029 was welcomed at Penn Dental's white coat ceremony on Aug. 12.
(Image: Domenic Gaeta)
In a time-honored tradition, the School of Dental Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM), and School of Veterinary Medicine marked the start of the semester with white coat ceremonies for their students. The annual presentation of a white coat—a hallmark of the health professions—to students symbolizes their commitment to uphold the responsibilities and values of their chosen professions.
Penn Dental Medicine welcomed the 178 members of its Class of 2029 in a ceremony held Aug. 12 at Penn’s Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. “The white coat is a symbol of students’ entrance into the distinguished ranks of the health profession and a commitment to the pursuit of knowledge,” Mark Wolff, Morton Amsterdam Dean, told the students. “You are joining a lineage of leaders from Penn Dental Medicine who have advanced our understanding of health through rigorous scientific inquiry and courageous exploration.”
On Aug. 15 in Irvine Auditorium, the 153 members of Penn Medicine’s Class of 2029 received their white coats, marking the beginning of their journey as physicians-in-training. “To practice medicine is a privilege like no other,” said Jen Kogan, vice dean for medical education. “And this white coat symbolizes compassion, humility, accountability, and service.”
And on Sept. 6, the nearly 130 members of the Class of 2027 received their white coats as part of Penn Vet’s ceremony at the Zellerbach Theatre, officially marking their transition from book learning in the classroom to treating animals in the clinic. “Today marks a significant milestone: the halfway point in a journey that continues to push us, teach us, and change us,” said Brooke Aguilar, Class of 2027 Penn Vet President.
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