Georgetown University Medical Center

M2012 White Coat Ceremony Information

Section: Regular Admissions

Friday, August 8th, 3:30 p.m.
Gaston Hall
3rd Floor Healy Building
Georgetown University Main Campus
Appropriate Business Attire Strongly Encouraged

The White Coat Ceremony marks the beginning of your career as a physician. It is held in Gaston Hall located in the Healy Building on the main campus of Georgetown University. Following the ceremony, there is a light reception on the Med-Dent Podium hosted by the Parent's Council.

TICKETS: On Tuesday, August 5th in LA-6, each student in the M2012 class will be receiving a folder of orientation materials. In this folder, each of you will also find TWO, and only two, White Coat Ceremony tickets due to limited seating in Gaston Hall. Please note that if you have handicapped individuals planning on attending the White Coat Ceremony, Gaston Hall is handicap accessible (see below for details on logistics).

COATING PROCEDURES DURING THE CEREMONY:

Students with relative M.D. coaters: You do NOT need to inform anyone prior to the ceremony that you have a coater for the ceremony, but you MUST use one of your White Coat Ceremony tickets for your coater.

  • 1. As the M2012 student approaches the left staircase on the stage, the M.D. coater will meet the student near the stage by the left staircase. M2011 students will hand the M2012 student his/her white coat.
  • 2. The M2012 student holds his/her white coat as both the M.D. coater and M2012 student walk up the stairs onto the stage stopping at center stage.
  • 3. The M2012 student hands the M.D. coater his/her white coat and the M.D. coater will then dress the M2012 student with the white coat.
  • 4. The two walk to the podium where the M2012 student announces his/her (the student’s) name at the podium. 
  • 5. The two process across the stage towards to opposite staircase.
  • 6. The M2012 student is pinned by a M2011 student with the Commitment to Care pin. 
  • 7. After being pinned, the two walk down the stairs and return to their respective seats.

Students who do not have a relative M.D. coater: The same procedures as stated above apply to you, simply without an accompanying M.D. coater. Various faculty members and deans already on stage will dress you with your coat. Follow the same procedures above but simply hand either a faculty member or a dean your white coat so that you can be coated. Process across to the opposite staircase, where you will be pinned by an M2011 student. After being pinned, return to your designated seat.

PARKING: Parking is complimentary and is located in the Southwest Parking Garage. When you arrive at the garage, inform the gate guard that you are attending the White Coat Ceremony for the School of Medicine and you will be admitted to park free of charge. Signage as well as M2011 students will be posted and stationed throughout campus in order to guide you to the appropriate locations for the ceremony and reception. Remember, all White Coat Ceremony ticket holders head to Gaston Hall in the Healy Building.

OTHER LOGISTICAL DETAILS: Golf carts will be available for handicapped individuals and will be able to take those individuals to both the ceremony and the reception. They will be shuttling back and froth from the Southwest Garage to Healy Hall prior to the reception and then will meet in Healy Circle (which is where the class will take their class photo) after the ceremony to take those individuals to the reception.


Please direct any questions regarding the White Coat Ceremony to the Office of Medical Education at 202.687.1004.