The First Coat, The First Step: Welcoming the College of Medicine Class of 2029

By Office of the President | Sep 23, 2025

Last Friday, more than 200 new students in the College of Medicine’s Class of 2029 donned their first white coats during Downstate’s 31st Annual White Coat Ceremony. Standing with them in the moment was a reminder that the White Coat is more than fabric; it is a promise to serve with humility, compassion, and excellence.

Created in 1993 by Dr. Arnold P. Gold, the White Coat Ceremony was designed to ensure that humanism is intrinsic to medical training. Downstate became one of the first medical schools to adopt the tradition in 1994. For over three decades, it has marked one of the most meaningful milestones in our students’ lives. Each student receives their coat from a faculty member and recites an oath, affirming their responsibility to treat disease and to care for the whole person.

This year, we welcomed back alumna Shari Andrews, M.D. (COM’10), as keynote speaker. Dr. Andrews, a board-certified emergency medicine physician, bestselling author, and wellness coach, reminded students that the White Coat is symbolic and transformative. She told the students that …” the coat doesn’t give you all the answers. It gives you access into rooms where people are vulnerable, to families who need comfort, and to decisions that carry great weight. Wear it with humility. Wear it with humanity. And wear it in a way that allows people to still see you underneath.” She also urged them to check their own “vital signs,” their rhythm, joy, resilience, and support systems, as a way to remain whole in a demanding profession.

College of Medicine dean F. Charles Brunicardi, M.D., encouraged students to embrace the challenges and opportunities of medicine today. Jeffrey Putman, Ed.D., reminded us that the heart of the Ceremony is the oath itself. It is a pledge that compassion and empathy must always stand alongside scientific excellence.

As I addressed the Class of 2029, I reflected on my journey. It feels like a magical moment whenever I put on my White Coat. It does not make us better than our patients or colleagues. Still, it reminds us of the privilege of serving humanity from the beginning to the end of life and everywhere in between.

The Class of 2029 now begins this journey. I am confident they will wear the White Coat with pride, humility, and humanity, carrying forward Downstate’s mission to #KeepCareClose.

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Tags: Events, White Coat Ceremony