Record number of family and friends travel from near and far to attend 2019 white coat ceremony
Traveling from as far as India and as nearby as Hyde Park, a record number of family and friends joined the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) Class of 2021 and the DMD Advanced Standing (AS) Class of 2020 for their White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, July 6, 2019, in the Metcalf Hall at the George Sherman Union on the University’s Charles River Campus (CRC).
In total, more than a thousand people attended the ceremony, which marks the midway point of the students’ education as well as their transition to seeing patients at the GSDM predoctoral Patient Treatment Center.
“Family truly is the most important part of our lives,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter during his opening remarks.
“That your child, spouse, grandchild, mother or father, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew, and friend wanted you here with them today for this ceremony speaks volumes to me about our students and the core values that you…have instilled in them. “
As the students entered the Hall, their white coats draped carefully over their right arm, family and friends crowded the aisles, taking photographs and waving as the 197 students proceeded to their seats.
This year’s keynote speaker, Dr. Chad Gehani, President-Elect of the American Dental Association (ADA), congratulated the students on their entry into the clinical portion of their education and reminded them of the responsibilities associated with dentistry.
“You are entering a life of public service,” Gehani remarked. “There is no greater calling.”
In groups of four, students walked on stage and were “coated” by representatives from the school’s faculty and congratulated by Dr. Gehani, Dr. Janis Moriarty, president of the Massachusetts Dental Society, and Dean Hutter. After all the students had been coated, Dean Hutter then led them in reciting their Professional Oath, in which students pledged themselves to the service of humanity, patients, community, and profession.
With Dr. Gehani at his side, Dean Hutter also recognized students who received awards for their academic accomplishments and leadership skills, including the five students who had been awarded GSDM Spencer N. Frankl Scholarships (Julia Beaumont DMD 21, Kayleigh Friedman DMD 21, Svitlana Koval DMD AS 20, Christopher Meyer DMD 21 and Samantha Zavada DMD 21); Moaz Zanbarakji DMD AS 20, who received the International College of Dentists Student Leadership Award; and Sundus Noeen DMD 21, who received the Omicron Kappa Upsilon William S. Kramer Award of Excellence.
The Dean then provided the students and guests in attendance with an update on the Addition & Renovation Construction Project. Earlier that day, students and their family members had the opportunity to tour the building and construction site to see the updates and progress firsthand. The tours were conducted by upperclass students.
“This ceremony has been an important rite of passage which marks the beginning of a new and important journey for our students who are here with us today,” Dean Hutter said in closing.
“I know I speak for all our faculty, staff, students, residents and alumni in saying that we are extremely proud of what you [the students] have already accomplished and honored to have the opportunity to mentor, educate, train and provide support to you as you continue your journey into our profession.”
The students exited proudly sporting their new professional white coats to a reception area. There, waiting for them, were their loved ones—their family and friends, who had traveled from around the world to see them embark on the next chapter of their dental education.
For more photos of the ceremony, click here, and to see photos taken during the building tours, click here. For a short video with highlights of the event, click here.