The White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage for dental students, a moment when they are recognized for their hard work and dedication to their studies. Representing the transition from pre-clinical to clinical, “from books to people” as Dr. Martin Kim said during his speech, the White Coat Ceremony recognizes the transition third year dental medicine students make when they begin their practice in the Faculty's undergraduate teaching clinic and community clinics. The ceremony featured speeches from Dean Elham Emami, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Dental Education Dr. Samer Abi Nader, student Joon Kwon from the class of 2024, and keynote speaker Dr. J.W. Martin Kim, DMD'07. Awards were also given out recognizing the students' academic excellence. After ceremony delays for past class years due to the pandemic, the Faculty has caught up and the White Coat Ceremony will return to its usual date next September.
Students were encouraged to embrace the humanistic side of dental medicine, to treat their patients with compassion and empathy and to always strive for excellence in their work. The white coat itself is more than just a symbol of professionalism. It is a physical representation of the trust that patients place in their dentists, and the dentists' commitment to the highest standards of patient care and professionalism. It also serves as a reminder that dental professionals must always act with integrity and respect for their patients. "The white coat represents the oath you will take to prioritize your patients’ needs above all else and the commitment you will make to lifelong learning and continuing education" explained Dean Emami as she addressed the students.
"If there's a wish, there's always a way. You made it, congratulations!" - Assistant Professor Dr. Firoozeh Samim