The University of Texas at Tyler Holds White Coat Ceremony for Second School of Medicine Class

July 1, 2024 | Elizabeth Wingfield

Second UT Tyler School of Medicine Class

The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine held a White Coat Ceremony for 40 new students comprising the school’s second class. The ceremony was presented by UT Health East Texas and Christus Health System.

“This White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage that marks a profound milestone for our students,” said Dr. Julie V. Philley, UT Tyler president. “It signifies the beginning of their journey into the medical profession and all of the responsibility that comes with it.”

During the event, students were presented with a white coat and a Humanism in Medicine pin. The keynote speech was delivered by Dr. Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP, former UT Tyler president, followed by the recitation of the Physician’s Oath, led by Dr. David Rice, the School of Medicine Phase One director. The tuition of the class was funded by a generous gift from an anonymous donor.

According to the School of Medicine, 85% of students in the inaugural class have ties to East Texas counties, including Smith, Gregg, Rusk, Harrison, Henderson, Cherokee, Wood and Lamar.

“It’s our mission to recruit people from the community to serve the community,” said Dr. Brigham C. Willis, School of Medicine founding dean. “We are incredibly proud of these future physicians, whose dedication and excellence embody the vibrant spirit of East Texas.”

The White Coat Ceremony was initiated in 1993 at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons by Dr. Arnold P. Gold. Gold, an advocate for humanistic health care, believed that the oath taken by new physicians at the end of medical school came too late. The Arnold P. Gold Foundation has expanded the White Coat Ceremony around the globe.

With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to nearly 10,000 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.