Media advisory: UB medical school holds white coat ceremony for class of 2019

BUFFALO, N.Y. —The Class of 2019 of the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences will participate in the school’s white coat ceremony at 3 p.m. today, Aug. 14, in the Mainstage Theatre in the Center for the Arts on the UB North Campus.

Best time for photos: students will begin to be “coated” at approximately 3:30 p.m.

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.

At the ceremony, all 144 medical students will take the Oath of Medicine. During the "calling of the class," students will be called to the stage individually to be presented with their coat while their undergraduate institution and hometown is 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."

The keynote address will be given by Alan J. Lesse, MD, senior associate dean for medical curriculum at UB. Archana Mishra, MD, clinical associate professor in the UB Department of Medicine, will receive the 2014 Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award.

Class of 2019 statistics and facts

The class of 144 was selected from a total of 4,362 applications received, 3.8 percent higher than last year’s application total of 4,201 and higher still than the 4,090 received in 2013.

Eighty-eight percent of the class of 2019 – 127 students – out of the total are from New York State with 61 students from Western New York and 66 from other parts of the state. Thirty-five students earned their undergraduate degrees from UB. There are 74 males and 70 females. Students range in age from 21 to 40.

In addition to numerous double majors and concentrations exhibited by the class, several stood out: one student majored in pharmacology and theatre, while another has an automotive service degree and a major in microbiology and bacteriology. Another student had a triple major in biology, chemistry and music.

The students have multiple honors and awards and many have conducted biomedical research; topics include the relationship between circadian rhythms and cancer, echocardiograms and high altitudes, and neurotrauma.

Their community service ranges from working for the Journey’s End Refugee Service, developing theatrical productions with prison inmates, volunteering with Meals on Wheels and working with a group that provides emotional support for families of slain police officers. Their recreational activities range from Frisbee and flag football to bowling, lacrosse and alpine ski patrol.

Press arrangements: Ellen Goldbaum in the UB Office of University Communications at 716-645-4605 or 716-771-9255 on-site.