Page 39 - COMP Magazine - Winter 2018
P. 39
The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific “The experience of putting on a white coat in a few to come straight from undergraduate programs. But he
welcomed 220 new students to the family at its White moments will change how you see and feel about has found that many have taken different paths before
Coat Ceremony August 11, 2018 in Pomona, California. yourself. Medical students surveyed about the arriving here. McCloud worked for four years and
The ceremony followed Convocation, Western highlights of medical school rate the white coat earlier this year completed WesternU’s Master of
University of Health Sciences’ traditional opening of the ceremony in the same grouping as commencement and Science in Medical Sciences program.
academic year. residency match,” Finley said. “You, your experience, McCloud said he has family members who don’t have
your knowledge, your skills, your osteopathic practice,
Today is an exciting time to enter health care, said access to medical care because they can’t afford it, or
COMP Dean Paula M. Crone, DO ’92. your passion, your humanity, cloaked in white, is what who live in medically underserved communities. He
you bring to each patient encounter. Never take that
“Western University of Health Sciences takes its opportunity and privilege for granted.” wants to become a doctor to help others and serve as
an inspiration.
responsibility of educating our future physicians
seriously, and we strive to do so with the highest of COMP Vice Dean David Connett, DO ’84, FACOFP, “I see many black communities like this. I want to start
quoted Sir William Osler, one of the founders of
standards. We recognize that it is not only a new era for making a difference,” he said. “I want to use my
medical education, but is one filled with tremendous the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, to explain the position in medicine to encourage young black students
significance of the white coat. Osler said, “Medicine
expectations day in and day out,” she said. “We know that they can be whatever they want to be as long as
that this next generation of physician, our students who is taught by the bedside.” And, “The practice of they work hard. I want to be able to build an education
medicine is an art, not a trade. It’s a calling, it’s not a
will soon stand before you here, will lead and transform system in communities to promote education for young
health care, and we expect them to do so while still business.” COMP students are given white coats on black students.”
their first day because they will train with patients in
maintaining their compassion, their empathy and their First-year COMP student Hanni Newland said he has
servant hearts. a few short weeks. friends who already attend WesternU, and they talked
“As medical students, you are bound by the same
“This is also an era where, finally, managing health about its family atmosphere and spirit of collaboration.
and wellness is as important as managing disease. professional commitments that bind all physicians. The Welcome Week confirmed that feeling, he said.
Students, it is truly an exciting time to be a medical ceremony will join the symbol of the white coat with “We’re less a group of individuals and more of a family
student. More so than ever before, your generation the virtues of altruism, responsibility, duty, honor, of future doctors,” Newland said. “I haven’t met
will be instrumental in changing the future of medicine respect and compassion,” Connett said. “The issue of a anyone I felt wouldn’t be an amazing doctor. Everyone
for the better.” white coat is a declaration of commitment when
students accept the obligations of our profession that is so wonderful.”
COMP’s White Coat keynote speaker was J. Michael begin at the beginning of medical school, not at the Putting on the white coat signifies the start of his
Finley, DO, FACOI, FACP, FACR, recently retired as COMP end. The white coat as a symbol of our profession personal journey in medicine, he said.
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Associate reminds physicians of their honored professional duties
Dean, Graduate Medical Education. He is the inaugural -- to lead their lives and practice their art with honor.” “It’s beginning to learn how to heal, something a lot of
Senior Vice President for Assessment at the National Each new COMP student shared their name and us have wanted to do for a while,” Newland said. “This
Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners in Chicago. is the chance to finally learn skills I will be applying for
hometown before walking across the stage to don their the rest of my life.
Some people argue that white coats might be a source white coat with the help of COMP faculty. They hail
of infection-transmitting pathogens from one patient from towns as close as Glendale, Diamond Bar and “Medicine is the perfect combination of taking my love
to another as a physician conducts their rounds. They Rancho Cucamonga and as far away as Lagos, Nigeria, for science and love for people and putting it to good
suggest the coats should be a different color, or have Baghdad, Iraq, and Hanoi, Vietnam. use,” Newland added. “There is no better work you can
shorter sleeves, or be abandoned altogether, Finley said. do than improving the lives of others.” n
It’s been interesting to see the diversity of the class in
But studies have shown that patients expect and prefer terms of where people came from and how they got
doctors to wear white coats. The white coat also into medical school, said first-year COMP student
symbolizes purity and a link to scientific inquiry, he said. Anthony McCloud. He expected a lot more classmates
Winter 2018 37
welcomed 220 new students to the family at its White moments will change how you see and feel about has found that many have taken different paths before
Coat Ceremony August 11, 2018 in Pomona, California. yourself. Medical students surveyed about the arriving here. McCloud worked for four years and
The ceremony followed Convocation, Western highlights of medical school rate the white coat earlier this year completed WesternU’s Master of
University of Health Sciences’ traditional opening of the ceremony in the same grouping as commencement and Science in Medical Sciences program.
academic year. residency match,” Finley said. “You, your experience, McCloud said he has family members who don’t have
your knowledge, your skills, your osteopathic practice,
Today is an exciting time to enter health care, said access to medical care because they can’t afford it, or
COMP Dean Paula M. Crone, DO ’92. your passion, your humanity, cloaked in white, is what who live in medically underserved communities. He
you bring to each patient encounter. Never take that
“Western University of Health Sciences takes its opportunity and privilege for granted.” wants to become a doctor to help others and serve as
an inspiration.
responsibility of educating our future physicians
seriously, and we strive to do so with the highest of COMP Vice Dean David Connett, DO ’84, FACOFP, “I see many black communities like this. I want to start
quoted Sir William Osler, one of the founders of
standards. We recognize that it is not only a new era for making a difference,” he said. “I want to use my
medical education, but is one filled with tremendous the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, to explain the position in medicine to encourage young black students
significance of the white coat. Osler said, “Medicine
expectations day in and day out,” she said. “We know that they can be whatever they want to be as long as
that this next generation of physician, our students who is taught by the bedside.” And, “The practice of they work hard. I want to be able to build an education
medicine is an art, not a trade. It’s a calling, it’s not a
will soon stand before you here, will lead and transform system in communities to promote education for young
health care, and we expect them to do so while still business.” COMP students are given white coats on black students.”
their first day because they will train with patients in
maintaining their compassion, their empathy and their First-year COMP student Hanni Newland said he has
servant hearts. a few short weeks. friends who already attend WesternU, and they talked
“As medical students, you are bound by the same
“This is also an era where, finally, managing health about its family atmosphere and spirit of collaboration.
and wellness is as important as managing disease. professional commitments that bind all physicians. The Welcome Week confirmed that feeling, he said.
Students, it is truly an exciting time to be a medical ceremony will join the symbol of the white coat with “We’re less a group of individuals and more of a family
student. More so than ever before, your generation the virtues of altruism, responsibility, duty, honor, of future doctors,” Newland said. “I haven’t met
will be instrumental in changing the future of medicine respect and compassion,” Connett said. “The issue of a anyone I felt wouldn’t be an amazing doctor. Everyone
for the better.” white coat is a declaration of commitment when
students accept the obligations of our profession that is so wonderful.”
COMP’s White Coat keynote speaker was J. Michael begin at the beginning of medical school, not at the Putting on the white coat signifies the start of his
Finley, DO, FACOI, FACP, FACR, recently retired as COMP end. The white coat as a symbol of our profession personal journey in medicine, he said.
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Associate reminds physicians of their honored professional duties
Dean, Graduate Medical Education. He is the inaugural -- to lead their lives and practice their art with honor.” “It’s beginning to learn how to heal, something a lot of
Senior Vice President for Assessment at the National Each new COMP student shared their name and us have wanted to do for a while,” Newland said. “This
Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners in Chicago. is the chance to finally learn skills I will be applying for
hometown before walking across the stage to don their the rest of my life.
Some people argue that white coats might be a source white coat with the help of COMP faculty. They hail
of infection-transmitting pathogens from one patient from towns as close as Glendale, Diamond Bar and “Medicine is the perfect combination of taking my love
to another as a physician conducts their rounds. They Rancho Cucamonga and as far away as Lagos, Nigeria, for science and love for people and putting it to good
suggest the coats should be a different color, or have Baghdad, Iraq, and Hanoi, Vietnam. use,” Newland added. “There is no better work you can
shorter sleeves, or be abandoned altogether, Finley said. do than improving the lives of others.” n
It’s been interesting to see the diversity of the class in
But studies have shown that patients expect and prefer terms of where people came from and how they got
doctors to wear white coats. The white coat also into medical school, said first-year COMP student
symbolizes purity and a link to scientific inquiry, he said. Anthony McCloud. He expected a lot more classmates
Winter 2018 37
