The 2023 Allied Health White Coat Ceremony

On October 9, 2023 the division of Allied Health held the eleventh annual White Coat Ceremony for students entering the clinical phase of their programs. The Allied Health professions represented at the ceremony included students from Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Radiography, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Neurodiagnostic Technology, Radiation Therapy, Respiratory Care, and Surgical Technology.

A White Coat Ceremony symbolically marks a student’s transition from pre-clinical preparation to professional-level coursework and focuses on the professional standards expected of those in patient care careers.

During the ceremony, Cali Edwards, a senior in the Medical Laboratory Science program, spoke to her fellow classmates about what it means to be a professional in Allied Health. She explained that professionalism extends beyond outward gestures like dressing well and having a firm handshake. “At its core, professionalism is about maintaining a high standard of integrity, accountability, and respect,” Edwards states.

Sixty-two students were then cloaked in white coats by their respective faculty members, representing the eight Allied Health programs at the College. Specifically, there were 9 students in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, 4 in Medical Laboratory Science, 19 in Medical Radiography, 6 in Nuclear Medicine Technology, 8 in Neurodiagnostic Technology, 5 in Radiation Therapy, 3 in Respiratory Care, and 8 in Surgical Technology.