For the first time in history, Class of 2025 MDCM students from Montreal Campus and Campus Outaouais celebrated together, in person, the important rite of passage marking second year students鈥� transition to clinical practice that is the White Coat Ceremony. Now in its 21st edition, the White Coat Ceremony, also known as 鈥楧onning the Healer鈥檚 Habit Ceremony鈥�, was hosted by Associate Dean for UGME Melanie Mondou, MDCM, and Program Director for Campus Outaouais Marion Koch, MD.
Opening with a delightful performance by the quartet I Medici di 平特五不中, the MDCM Class of 2025 was reminded of the importance of this momentous event by David Eidelman, MDCM, Vice-Principal (Health Affairs) and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. 鈥淵ou all have been given a powerful gift, symbolized by the white coat; that gift is the talent and the opportunity to train to become a doctor, to make a big difference in people鈥檚 lives,鈥� he said.
Keynote speaker Jillian Horton, MD, Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, University of Manitoba, delivered a powerful keynote address, reminding students of the importance of compassion within the healthcare professions. Students also heard personal reflections by fellow student Jeffrey Sioufi, Class of 2023.
Following the donning of the white coats, the ceremony concluded with recitations of the class pledge in English and French. The ceremony was a resounding success for the 204 students, who are now looking forward to their clinical rotations: 鈥淭he White Coat Ceremony means everything to us students. It鈥檚 an important step on our journeys as future physicians. And it鈥檚 a day we鈥檒l look back on, 20, 30 years from now鈥� said Oma Toubar, Class president for Campus Outaouais.
The occasion was made even more special since students were able to invite their friends and family to join them in person for the first time since the pandemic. Overall, over 650 people attended the 2022 White Coat Ceremony.
Congratulations once again to Class of 2025!