Media Advisory: 143 Future Physicians to Participate in UB's White Coat Ceremony

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- One hundred and forty-three students will take their first, public step toward becoming physicians on Aug. 17 when they participate in the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences' White Coat Ceremony at 3 p.m. in the Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall on the North Campus.

The White Coat Ceremony is a symbolic rite of passage shared by medical students across the U.S. to establish a psychological contract for professionalism and empathy in the practice of medicine.

During the "Calling of the Class," each of the students in the Class of 2016 will be called to the stage to be presented with their coat while their undergraduate institution and hometown will be identified by Charles M. Severin, MD, PhD, UB associate dean for medical education and admissions.

Michael E. Cain, MD, vice president for health sciences and dean of the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, will give the welcome, where he traditionally tells the students: "You have earned the right to wear one. Now you must earn the right to keep it."

Thomas C. Mahl, MD, clinical professor in the Department of Medicine and chief of medical service in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Buffalo, will give the keynote address.

Peter D. Ewing, MD, clinical assistant professor of medicine at UB, will be presented with the Leonard Tow 2012 Humanism in Medicine Award.

For press arrangements, please contact Ellen Goldbaum in the UB Office of University Communications at 645-4605 or 771-9255 on-site.