The white coat is one of the most recognizable symbols in medicine. Marking the symbolic start of a medical career, receiving their white coat is an important and significant moment in a medical student’s journey.
But physicians didn't always wear white coats.
Dean of the Osteopathic Medicine program, Philadelphia, and Chief Academic Officer Peter Bidey, DO '08, MSEd, FACOFP, explains that “many years ago, physicians wore darker clothes. It was more formal, and having an interaction with your physician was seen as something more serious than today.”
As medical knowledge advanced, a shift occurred with increased awareness of the importance of sterile medical environments, and the white coat emerged as a symbol of cleanliness. Beyond that, the white coat has evolved into a symbol of professionalism, empathy and a doctor’s commitment to caring for their patient.
Today, the White Coat Ceremony marks a pivotal moment for first-year medical students at PCOM, symbolizing their dedication to compassionate care and excellence in the osteopathic profession. The tradition fosters a sense of community and support, helping shape their professional identity and ethics.
Bidey views the White Coat Ceremony as “another step in the journey to becoming a doctor,” emphasizing the responsibility that comes with wearing the white coat.
“The White Coat Ceremony brings gravity to the situation,” he said. “When you’re wearing the white coat, you’re acting as a physician, even as a third- and fourth-year medical student. You have to be ethical in all decisions, and always remember that the patient comes first.”
The first mention of the white coat in the PCOM Library’s Digital Commons can be found in the spring 1926 issue of former student magazine The Axone: “Again the Class of '27 has established a precedent. This time it is in the matter of wearing white coats in clinic. The ‘barber’ coats brought forth no small amount of ridicule, but it certainly adds to the appearance and dignity of our clinic,” the student editors quipped.
Before the tradition of white coat ceremonies, first-year students selected their white coats on Registration Day–seen here in 1976. (Digest Magazine, September 1976)
A passage in the 1944 Synapsis yearbook further reflects on the sense of confidence associated with wearing the white coat: “Another big moment in our lives as Sophomores occurred on the day when we began Clinic Service. We were only assistants, of course, but it did swell our personal pride so pleasantly to enter the clinic with our white coats, our bags, and the greeting of ‘Hello, Doctor’ from the patients and our fellow classmen.”
As medicine continues to evolve, the white coat remains a timeless emblem of the medical profession. Looking forward, Bidey envisions that the white coat will continue to serve as a “symbol of compassion” and a marker of the trust between patient and physician.
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.
Kristen Hopf
Communications Content Specialist
Email: kristenho1@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6303
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