SUNY Downstate College of Medicine Hosts Its 30th Annual White Coat Ceremony
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Sep 25, 2024
Dr. Calvin Sun (COM ‘14), Nationally Recognized for Stories from the Front Lines of
the COVID-19 Pandemic, Served as Guest Speaker at the Ceremony
BROOKLYN, NY– SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University’s College of Medicine hosted the 30th Annual White Coat Ceremony, marking a significant milestone for incoming medical students. In front of hundreds of family, friends, and well-wishers, the Class of 2028 celebrated one of the most exciting parts of their medical school journey.
Dr. Calvin Sun, author, activist, and emergency medicine physician who graduated from the College of Medicine in 2014, was the guest speaker. Dr. Sun gained national recognition for his harrowing stories from the COVID-19 front, recounted his academic and professional journey, and shared words of wisdom with the incoming class.
The White Coat Ceremony marks the first step in a student’s medical career. New College of Medicine students received their white coats. They recited an oath to prioritize patient well-being, respect privacy, and honor mentors and peers, symbolizing formal entry to the profession.
“The white coat is more than just a symbol of a profession—it is a promise to your patients, community, and yourself. It represents a commitment to remain compassionate and ethical and to choose curiosity over judgment, especially in difficult times,” said Dr. Sun. “Medicine is not just a career but a lifelong journey of healing, comforting, and making a difference. Stay present, stay curious, and trust that every surprise will lead you where you are meant to be.”
“There is a great deal of pride and responsibility for those donned with the white coat,” said Downstate president Wayne J. Riley, M.D. “It is more than just a symbol—it’s a reminder of the trust patients place in us and the compassion we must carry forward. These future physicians have taken their first step into a profession that demands excellence and empathy, and I am confident they will rise to the challenge.”
“The white coat represents a commitment to lifelong learning, patient care, and the humanistic values that lie at the heart of medicine,” said Downstate College of Medicine dean F. Charles Brunicardi, M.D. “When I became a doctor many years ago, the White Coat Ceremony did not exist; however, the values it represents were always at the core of our profession. I am honored to see our young physicians embracing the principles of this important rite of passage.”
Dr. Sun invited students to join him in volunteering at the medical tent for the upcoming New York City Marathon, where he serves as Chief Medical Director. This opportunity provides students with invaluable experience in a high-pressure medical setting, supporting athletes at the finish line of one of the world’s most famous marathons.
The White Coat Ceremony, founded in 1993 by Dr. Arnold P. Gold at Columbia, emphasizes compassion in healthcare from the start of medical training. With support from Dr. Sandra Gold, the ceremony spread worldwide. SUNY Downstate adopted it in 1994 and continues the tradition. Today, nearly all medical schools hold White Coat Ceremonies sponsored by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.