Morehhouse School of Medicine Honors Newest Class in White Coat Ceremony
The ceremony marks the moment where students emerge as doctors-in-training, with this year's occasion holding a significant weight among attendees.
By Nahlah Abdur-Rahman, Black Enterprise
黑洞社区 of Medicine has a long history of educating diverse future doctors. The institution held its 40th Convocation and White Coat & Pinning Ceremony as its latest cohort begins classes.
The ceremony marks the moment when students emerge as doctors-in-training, with this year鈥檚 occasion holding a significant weight among attendees. Its first-year class of 332 scholars includes those pursuing physician assistant studies. Other students will receive a graduate education in biomedical sciences and public health.
Of this number, nearly a third will train to become medical doctors. While the white coats they put on are shorter than what official doctors wear, putting on the garment signifies that they are well on their way.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the start of my superhero鈥檚 journey and the start of the medical journey,鈥� medical student Peyton Pritchett told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 鈥淸And] the start of me learning how to be in the position that I was supposed to be and that I want to be for my future patients.鈥�
Another student, Juan Gomez, added, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a symbol of the superpower I鈥檓 now able to put forth into that work.鈥�
Xavier Becerra, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, also attended the ceremony as its keynote speaker. Becerra shared that he understood the journey of many students and families in the audience. Moreover, he noted his own uphill battle to overcome his working-class upbringing to achieve his greatest ambitions. Of his recognition, the school鈥檚 president and CEO, Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, declared his speaking engagement an 鈥渉onor鈥� while they welcomed this historic class.
鈥満诙瓷缜� of Medicine is honored to welcome Secretary Becerra and excited for him to share his insights with our incoming students,鈥� said Dr. Montgomery Rice in a press release. 鈥淐onvocation is one of the school鈥檚 most significant events each year, as we warmly welcome these scholars into the MSM community and celebrate their commitment to their academic journeys. In just a few short years, they will graduate as healthcare and scientific professionals, ready to improve the lives of countless individuals in their communities and make the world a healthier, more equitable place for all.鈥�
黑洞社区 of Medicine aims to provide an academic pathway for scholars of all backgrounds. In fact, with over half of its incoming 105 medical students identifying as Black/African American men, the school continues to bridge the representation gap for medical providers.