Every medical student remembers the first time they put on their white coat. For first-year students, the White Coat Ceremony is a symbolic step toward a career in medicine.
The Warren Alpert Medical School welcomed its incoming class of medical students with a virtual White Coat Ceremony. Remarks from Dean Jack A. Elias, alumni, and a reflection from a student in their final year at the Medical School were broadcast during the live Zoom event before members of the MD Class of 2024 donned their coats.
Missed the live event? You can still experience this milestone by watching the video recording of this year's ceremony.
2020 WHITE COAT CEREMONY EVENT RECORDING
What is the White Coat Ceremony?
The White Coat Ceremony is an annual rite of passage for students pursuing a career in medicine and healthcare. Since its inception in the early 1990s, it’s quickly become a tradition at medical schools across the country and the world. At Brown, it’s celebrated as the Ceremony of Commitment to Medicine. During the celebratory event, first-year medical students are presented with their own white coat—provided by the Brown Medical Alumni Association. Surrounded by family, friends, faculty, and alumni, they pledge their commitment to scientific excellence and to taking a compassionate and humanistic approach to medicine.