Class of 2025 White Coat Ceremony

The white coat is a non-verbal symbol which is used to initiate student doctors into the career of medicine and is the first outward manifestation of a student’s commitment to becoming a physician.  The White Coat Ceremony was developed to honor medical students as they accept the great and solemn responsibility of entering the medical profession and begin the process of dedicating themselves to the professionalism necessary to become compassionate practitioners of the art of medicine.

The White Coat Ceremony is a celebration that began in 1993 in the United States when Dr. Arnold Gold and the Gold Foundation, instituted the ceremony as a way to “emphasize humanism in medicine at the very start of medical education.”

The White Coat, which is worn throughout a student’s medical education, is ceremonially draped around each student during the celebration to inaugurate students into the profession.

During the celebration students took the Osteopathic Pledge of Commitment and the Osteopathic Oath, which they will say again at their Graduation from medical school. Both of the

se affirm their role as healthcare professionals mindful of their great and important responsibility to their future patients.

This year, the students were able to attend a hybrid ceremony which permitted physical distancing between all of the students and faculty, while allowing family and friends to participate via Zoom or YouTube.

Dr. Tami Hendriksz, Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, presided over the event for the first time as a Dean but has literally been in the students’ shoes, having gone through the White Coat Ceremony as a Touro student herself.

“I am so honored and excited to celebrate the Class of 2025 White Coat Ceremony today,” Dr. Hendriksz said as she welcomed the students and faculty in person, and the family and friends virtually.

Shelly Berkley, the CEO and Sr. Provost of Touro Western Division, congratulated the students and thanked the families and friends for joining remotely. Hundreds attended the event live October 10 and more than 1,100 have viewed the YouTube link since.

“We are here with you at this important juncture at the beginning of your journey, and we will be with be with you at the end … when you receive your diploma,” Berkley said.

Dr. Sarah Sweitzer, Provost and Chief Academic Officer of Touro University California, noted that the students were part of a tradition on Mare Island that spanned more than 150 years.

The old Navy hospital in the center of campus was built 150 years ago. Then, following an

earthquake, reconstructed into its present form 120 years ago.  That hospital was at the heart of the Spanish Flu outbreak 100 years ago, with health professionals then helping to save lives, just as Touro students, faculty, and other volunteers have during COVID.

“You put on your white coats today not just along with your fellow Touro students … but to join the hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers who have come before you right on this island over the last 150 years.”

Two students from other years Kundan Malik, Class of 2024 and Current President of the College of Osteopathic Medicine Student Executive Council (COMSEC) and Samaneh Bolourchi, Class of 2023 and  former president of the COMSEC gave heartfelt speeches to welcome their future peers into the profession.

The Keynote speech was given by Dr. Alexandra Myers President of the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California. We are profoundly grateful to the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of CA who donated the coats worn by our student to welcome them into the Osteopathic Profession.

The Class of 2024, which had its White Coat Ceremony postponed due to COVID, will celebrate their ceremony during the Spring semester.