Last week I was invited to attend the white coat ceremony for the UAMS College of Health Professions’ Physician Assistant Class of 2018. I was deeply impressed by the by the students, the ceremony, and the significance of the white coat. While I know that several of the colleges and programs have white coat ceremonies, it was the first time I have ever been able to witness one.
I learned that the white coat ceremony is a rite of passage that marks the students’ entry into their profession. During the ceremony, the professional community, represented by the faculty and staff of the program, begins to communicate its values and mission to the students. The white coat bestows both privileges and responsibilities on the wearers. It represents their position and purpose.
When the students put on their white coat, they put on a new identity. It is a transition from ‘prerequisite to program”, a tangible statement of their role in and commitment to providing quality health care. At the end of the ceremony they know what their profession will expect of them. They understand that the decisions they make will define their practice.
I wish more disciplines had the equivalent of the white coat ceremony. I certainly wish my field of study had something like it. It’s not the same as the graduation ceremony that marks the end of your time as a student. The white coat ceremony focuses students on what the end result of their hard work will be. It gives them a brief picture of that city on the hill, that successful, professional life that is waiting for them. It lets the students know that the demands placed on them will be worth the effort.
Congratulations of the Physician Assistant Class of 2018 and to all the students who have participated in a white coat ceremony! You are remarkable group, and I know you will work hard to achieve your goals. I believe all of you will be successful and accomplish great things in both your academic and professional endeavors.