The start of every medical school journey is filled with exciting, often challenging,
but always memorable experiences. Near the top of those experiences is the white coat
ceremony. Marking the symbolic start of their medical career, 280 first-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) students from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) Class of 2026
received their white coats for the first time in a ceremony at the Hilton Philadelphia
City Avenue. The white coat ceremony is an annual tradition establishing a contract
for first-year medical students that stresses the importance of compassionate care
for patients and scientific proficiency.
“The white coat represents a commitment to service, dedication, empathy, responsibility
and sacrifice,” said Arthur Sesso, DO, interim dean of the osteopathic medicine program and chief academic officer. “It takes only a few seconds to put a white coat on,
but it takes a lifetime to fill it.”
Katie O'Shea (DO '23), DO class chair, reflected on her white coat ceremony and what the white coat has meant for her on her journey through medical school. “Throughout my first year, I spent a lot of time getting to know my white coat,” she said. “This is your start. Your time to build a friendship with your white coat. The piece of material that will be with you each step on your major journey through medical school.”
O'Shea also reminded the assembled students that although the path is difficult, they are each capable of achieving their goals. “I can assure you, even though you will have many, many moments of doubt, you are all going to go far. Because you have your white coat with you, supporting you along the way.”
Delivering remarks from her perspective as an alumna, Odessa Pulido, DO '17, cautioned the Class of 2026 not to miss the moment. “I want you to take this time to stop thinking about what's next,” she said. “Enjoy this moment. Think about how far you've come, the people surrounding you right now, and how hard they had to support you and be there for you.”
After a reading of the class mission statement led by Brianna Hector (DO '26), DO
Class Chair, Lisa Witherite-Rieg, DO, president of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical
Association (POMA), delivered remarks to the students highlighting practical tips
on how to care for their new attire. She also offered support on behalf of osteopathic
physicians across the state in helping the Class of 2026 navigate their way through
medical school. “Your white coat signifies the commitment you are making to yourselves,
your colleagues, your college of osteopathic medicine, and every patient that will
trust you in the future,” she said. “Wear them with pride, but wear them with humility.”
Kenneth Veit, DO, MBA, FACOFP, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, concluded the ceremony with advice for the families in attendance, saying, “Your role in the future is to be there for these young students, to be listening to them as they go through this incredibly difficult, hard, but so-important process to become physicians of the future.”
The white coats for the class of 2026 were provided through a donation from POMA. Each coat was adorned with the College patch donated by the PCOM Alumni Association.
For the past 125 years, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
Brandon Lausch
Executive Director, Strategic Communications
Email: brandonla@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6312 | Cell:
717-371-0609
© 2024 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine