White Coat a Symbol of Trust, Integrity, Humanism, Executive Dean Advises College of Medicine Class of 2029

New students in the College of Medicine received their white coats during a ceremony Friday.

"As you don your white coat for the first time, know that it's far more than a garment," UT Health Science Center College of Medicine Executive Dean Michael Hocker, MD, told the members of the Class of 2029 during the annual White Coat Ceremony at the Cannon Center Friday.

"It is a symbol of your commitment to the values of this profession," he said. "You'll hear these words a lot, but they mean something: trust, humanism, integrity, professionalism, empathy, and compassion. Sometimes that white coat will get dirty, but if you can remember every time you put it on, there's a reason - you're stepping into the role of a servant leader, someone who puts others first, who lifts up people, places, and communities."

"It's not just a uniform; it's a cape," the dean said. "And while it won't give you superpowers, it will ask you to be heroic in quieter ways, listening deeply, showing compassion, standing up for what's right."

During his first White Coat Ceremony since joining the college earlier this summer, Executive Dean Michael Hocker told the students the white coats symbolize their commitment to caring for patients and communities.

Each year since 1996, the College of Medicine has marked the culmination of the orientation to medical school for the entering class with a ceremony during which the students receive their white coats. The white coats, bestowed by faculty leaders, signify the start of their journey in the college and emphasize the professionalism of the field they are entering.

The ceremony, planned and organized by the College of Medicine Office of Admissions, is made possible by the Bland W. Cannon, MD, Endowment, established and funded by the family, friends, and colleagues of the late Dr. Cannon. It recognizes the qualities of empathy, respect, and humanism toward patients Dr. Cannon exemplified as a physician.

The students also recite the Oath to Self-Care and Well-Being, reminding them to take care of themselves and each other as they pursue their training, and the Oath to Hippocrates, stressing their duty to their patients.

"Today marks a journey, a beginning of a journey that will shape not only your careers, but countless lives of the people you will serve and touch," Dean Hocker said. The ceremony was his first official event since joining the College of Medicine earlier this summer.

"As you step into this next chapter, wear your white coat with pride, but most importantly, with purpose," he continued. "Be curious, be courageous, be kind. Be what the world needs you to be."

Catherine Womack, MD, associate dean of Student Affairs and Admissions and an associate professor of Internal Medicine, said the 177 members of the new class come from all over the United States, with the most from Tennessee, including 29 counties. "We have Eagle Scouts, college athletes, musicians, student government leaders, a few students who have earned doctoral degrees, and even a set of twins."

Additionally, the members of the Class of 2029 have performed a total of 85,000 hours of public service in the United States and abroad, as well as more than 150,000 hours of paid medical and clinical work, she said.

Ryan Mire, MD, an internal medicine physician in Nashville and an alumnus of the College Medicine, advised the students to focus on the humanity of medicine.

Dr. Ryan Mire, a College of Medicine alumnus, encouraged the students to remember "the humanity that is required to be a true healer."

"We use the word 'care' in multiple ways in medicine," Dr. Mire said. "But today, I would like to focus my remarks on its true meaning. As future physicians who have committed yourselves to the art of healing, humanity is what will separate you from all the amazing technology at your fingertips. Your entrance into medical school comes at a time when technology is plentiful and will continue to evolve in years to come. And personally, I'm thankful for that. However, despite our growing technological proficiencies, humanity is the one foundational proficiency that will never go out of favor in medicine.

"Let us not forget that while those technological tools help us provide care, they do not care for the patient," he said. "Strive to be more connected to your patients than your electronic devices. Your ability to impart empathy, compassion, trustworthiness, and humility is encompassed in the humanity that is required to be a true healer."

Dr. Mire, who is president emeritus of the American College of Physicians, told the students that patients will be their most important teachers. "Don't just learn about them, learn from them," he said. "Remember, while they are your patient, they are also someone's father, mother, son, daughter, sister, or brother. Treat them with the respect they deserve as human beings, extend to them the gift of humanity in exchange for the opportunity and privilege they provide you to learn from them."

As the president-elect of the College of Medicine Alumni Council, Dr. Mire ended his remarks with a call to action. "As you don the white coat, embrace and learn the amazing technology that is integrated in health care. But please prioritize humanity as the fundamental tenet that truly will provide care for your patients, care for each other as professional colleagues, and care for yourselves."