COM Welcomes New Medical Students
White Coat Ceremony Celebrates Latest Cadre of Future Physicians to Take Their Place on TUC Campus
The Lander Hall Auditorium filled Aug. 30 as the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2030 took part in what’s become a time-honored tradition and received their white coats in front of a cheering crowd of family and friends.
And if that wasn’t enough, an overflow audience enjoyed the ceremony as it was livestreamed to the large classroom space in Lander Hall.
Dr. Tami Hendriksz, Dean of the Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine, Campus Provost and Chief Academic Officer, and an alumna of the DO Class of 2006, welcomed students and guests alike and served as emcee for a ceremony to honor a class of future physicians some 200 strong.
“I remember the privilege and honor I felt the first time I put on the white coat, this powerful, iconic symbol of the medical profession,” Hendriksz said. “The coat you will receive today is far more than a piece of clothing. It represents trust. It represents responsibility. And it represents the profound privilege you have chosen to embrace: to care for others in their most vulnerable moments.”
Your ‘Why’ and the Osteopathic Philosophy
Student Doctor Felipe Sta. Agueda IV, President of the COM Student Executive Council and a DO Class of 2029 candidate, encouraged the Class of 2030 to recall their “why” and to remember that medicine is a privilege that physicians need to earn.
“Each and every one of us had a personal statement that was a snapshot of who we were and why we think we belong in medicine,” said Agueda, who is a graduate with the Master of Sciences in Medical Health Sciences program’s Class of 2025. “But now it becomes something different. Now it becomes a living document because from now on, our lives in medicine become the evidence to make those words true.”
“Whatever our reason is, I hope you never lose sight of it.”
Agueda said medical school has a way of making the immediate feel like everything: the next exam, the next practical, the next Individual Readiness Assessment, the next exam again.
“It can really feel like that’s the reason we’re here. We can become so hyper-focused on getting through the next challenge that we forget why we started climbing in the first place,” Agueda said. “There will be days when learning medicine feels overwhelming, but on those days, I hope that we remember our why, because that is so much bigger. Our why is the person sitting across from us one day, trusting us with their health, their fears, and sometimes their life.”
Agueda said school – their world – at times might look like lab values, imaging, diagnoses, but he said they should remember “that’s someone’s life, someone’s parents, someone’s child, someone’s friend.”
“That is where our philosophy matters,” he said.
Program Alums Share Words to Encourage Students
Several members of the COM’s alumni community offered written words of encouragement to the first-year student doctors.
“As a Touro graduate, I still remember the excitement – and uncertainty – that came with beginning clinical training,” wrote Dr. Patrick McKenna, DO/MPH Class of 2007. “The years ahead will challenge you, surprise you, and shape you in ways you cannot yet anticipate. Stay curious, remain humble, and never lose sight of the privilege of being invited into patients’ lives at their most vulnerable moments. Listen carefully, ask questions, and learn from everyone around you. Trust that you belong here and that you are ready for this next step. I wish you an incredible journey ahead.”
“As you begin your new chapter in medicine, hold on to your ‘why.’ You will undergo immense growth on this journey and are entering a career that is incredibly rewarding and humbling,” wrote Dr. Yasmin Bains, DO Class of 2021. “Care for yourself, care for each other and care for the communities you serve. Be open to learning not just in your classes, but from your patients who are also your teachers. The future of medicine will be shaped by your curiosity and compassion.”
“There will be challenging days ahead, but also countless moments that remind you what a privilege it is to care for others,” wrote Dr. Jonathan Revels, DO Class of 2012. “Believe in yourself, support those around you, and enjoy the journey. The best is yet to come!”
“Congratulations on this huge accomplishment,” wrote Dr. Michael Hakimi, DO Class of 2006. “Your next action will change the world. Make it a good one. You got this!”