The graduating DDS class of 2018 was officially welcomed to the dental clinic during the annual White Coat Ceremony, April 27.
"My charge to you, the class of 2018, is to carry forth and maintain and enrich the attributes of professionalism, integrity, compassion and honesty that are the foundation of our profession," said Tom Stevenson, associate chair, student affairs, with the School of Dentistry during the 2016 White Coat Ceremony. "Do you accept this charge?"
The Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) class of 2018 formally accepted the traditional charge at the annual School of Dentistry's White Coat Ceremony. At the ceremony, the students are presented with white lab coats which symbolize their move from didactic learning to clinical practice.
"The journey that led us to this ceremony hasn't been easy," said Jennifer Yu, DDS 2018. "In fact, it's been long and arduous like the running course of that splenic and facial artery. Through a challenging two years, we attended hundreds of lectures, put in countless hours in the lab, and crammed as much knowledge in our brains that it could handle."
The students accepting the charge on behalf of the DDS 2018 class -Yu and Ann Ma, acknowledged all of the individuals who inspired and helped shape who they've become today.
"We would like to thank all of our mentors for their patience and dedication―to all the lab instructors and professors who didn't give up on us when we just can't seem to get it right," said Yu and Ma.
"The ceremony symbolizes a move towards patient care," said Dr. Paul Major, chair of the School of Dentistry. "We hope that once the students step into the role of a clinician, they will feel a sense of accountability and awareness that they are now part of an integral team of healthcare practitioners providing care to people in need."
"We look forward to facing the challenges to come, the opportunities to learn from mentors as well as our colleagues," said Ma. "It is our privilege to accept these white coats today as a symbol of a new stage of our lives as clinicians. The acceptance of our white coats truly represents the immense responsibilities that come with our fast approaching clinical education and ultimately, patient care."