(Aug. 1, 2023) East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine presented the 78 members of the Class of 2027 with their white coats last week, one of the first major steps in their journey to becoming doctors.
This year’s incoming class was selected from a record 3,965 applicants and represents 45 undergraduate institutions. All but six students are Tennesseans. Two are children of Quillen alumni, and there are five military-affiliated members of the class.
The White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage for beginning medical students to help establish a psychological contract for professionalism and empathy in the practice of medicine. The event emphasizes the importance of both scientific excellence and compassionate care for the patient. Quillen College of Medicine held its first White Coat Ceremony in 1997. Since that time, the ceremony has become the climax of the new student orientation program.
“The white coat shows that you are where you’re supposed to be,” said Jason Ramos, a member of Quillen’s Class of 2027. “You have answered your calling, and you are laying the first brick in the road and following this path. We all heard this call, and we all answered. It is a monumental accomplishment.”
With five health sciences colleges and more than 40 health sciences programs, ETSU offers a robust combination of academic programs and patient-care facilities that elevate interprofessional experience in health care education.
To learn more about the Quillen College of Medicine, visit etsu.edu/com.