ARH Internal Medicine Residency Program Welcomes New Physicians During White Coat Ceremony

NEWS RELEASE - August 26, 2026

ARH Internal Medicine Residency Program Welcomes New Physicians During White Coat Ceremony

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) Internal Medicine Residency Program welcomed its newest cohort of physicians during a White Coat Ceremony held at StoneCrest Golf Course in Prestonsburg.

The ceremony marked the beginning of a significant new chapter for the residents as they prepared to start the new academic year. The event symbolized their transition from medical students to physician trainees and recognized their commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate patient care.

"The White Coat Ceremony marks the profound moment when our incoming interns step across the threshold from students to practicing physicians. The White Coat signifies the assumption of a sacred responsibility to your patients, colleagues, and the community," said Dr. Bart Francis, ARH Internal Medicine Program Director.

During the ceremony, each resident exchanged the shorter white coat traditionally worn by medical students for a full-length professional white coat. The presentation represents the responsibilities, professionalism and dedication associated with entering residency training and the medical profession.

The ARH Internal Medicine Residency Program is a 36-month, comprehensive training program designed to prepare physicians for successful careers in internal medicine. Throughout the program, residents participate in a wide range of clinical experiences while working alongside experienced physicians and healthcare professionals.

The rigorous training allows residents to strengthen their skills in diagnosing, treating and managing a broad range of medical conditions. Residents also develop the clinical judgment, communication skills and compassion needed to provide effective, patient-centered care.

The White Coat Ceremony served as both a celebration and a reminder of the responsibility each resident accepts as they begin this challenging and rewarding stage of their medical careers. Through education, mentorship and hands-on experience, the program aims to develop competent, compassionate and well-rounded physicians who are prepared to make a positive impact on the patients and communities they serve.

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About Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) traces its roots back to 1955, when the United Mine Workers of America opened the Miners Memorial Hospital system - a network of 10 hospitals dedicated to providing care throughout the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Seventy years later, ARH has grown into a 14-hospital not-for-profit health system that serves more than 500,000 residents of central Appalachia each year. ARH hospitals in Barbourville, Harlan, Hazard, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky, and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, ensure that residents, tucked away in even the most remote areas, can access the highest quality of care without traveling hours from home. ARH's hospitals, clinics, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores, retail pharmacies, and medical spas boast more than 6,700 employees with a network of more than 1,300 providers, making it the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.