TYLER, Texas — UT Tyler recently celebrated its second class of 40 medical school students with a white coat ceremony.
“This White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage that marks a profound milestone for our students,” said UT Tyler President Dr. Julie V. Philley. “It signifies the beginning of their journey into the medical profession and all of the responsibility that comes with it.”
During the ceremony, students received a white coat and a humanism in medicine pin and former UT Tyler President Dr. Kirk Calhoun served as the keynote speaker. Dr. David Rice, the School of Medicine Phase One director, led the students in the recitation of the physician’s oath.
All of the students' tuition has been funded by a donor's generous gift.
“It’s our mission to recruit people from the community to serve the community,” said Dr. Brigham C. Willis, School of Medicine founding dean. “We are incredibly proud of these future physicians, whose dedication and excellence embody the vibrant spirit of East Texas.”
In the School of Medicine's first class, about 85% of the students have ties to East Texas counties, including Smith, Gregg, Rusk, Harrison, Henderson, Cherokee, Wood and Lamar.
UT Health East Texas and Christus Health System presented the ceremony.
