Hundreds Gather for School of Medicine Class of 2028 White Coat Ceremony

The members of the class of 2028 stand together on the steps of Healy Hall with their new white coats on — Students from the Georgetown University School of Medicine Class of 2028 marked their entry into the health professions at this year's White Coat Ceremony. (Image by Thomas Sherman)

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(August 4, 2024) — Hundreds of family and friends gathered to celebrate a time-honored tradition in medicine: the annual White Coat Ceremony. This year, 203 students from the School of Medicine Class of 2028 received their short white coats — a symbolic milestone marking their entry into the health professions.

“Today, you join Georgetown’s community of scholars and healers who are guided by the Jesuit principle of cura personalis — care of the whole person — in mind, body and spirit,” said Lee Jones, MD, dean for medical education, to a standing-room-only audience inside historic Gaston Hall at the August 2 celebration.

“Our researchers, clinicians, staff and fellow students are fully engaged in contributing to the care of our very diverse communities, addressing health care and health disparities, and the progress of both science and the art of medicine for the greater good, locally, nationally and globally,” he said.

Norman J. Beauchamp Jr., MD, MHS, Georgetown University Medical Center executive vice president for health sciences and School of Medicine executive dean, passed along guidance once shared with him about the importance of caring for patients.

“I ask you to remember this: Patients won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” Beauchamp said.

“No person, no patient should feel alone in their time of illness,” Beauchamp added. “Too often, they do. So, by entering that room, leading with love, leading with caring, you’re already helping, more than you know.”

Watch a replay of the White Coat Ceremony on Facebook (account not required).

Scenes from the Class of 2028 White Coat Ceremony

Images by Donhee Cui unless otherwise indicated.

“Patients won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” said Norman J. Beauchamp Jr., MD, MHS, Georgetown University Medical Center executive vice president for health sciences and School of Medicine executive dean.

Mr. Afroz and Sasha Afroz stand with Dean Jones

School of Medicine alumni sponsored the white coats received by the students at the ceremony. “Their contributions are indicative of the bond between you and the Hoya physicians who came before you,” Jones told the class. Jones (far right) is pictured here with student Sasha Afroz and her father, Dr. Syed Afroz.

Stephen Ray Mitchell, MD, MBA, dean emeritus, delivered the Edmund Pellegrino Lecture. “[The practice of medicine] is an oath, or a promise to the patient, based on your faith, based on this profession, and based on your own honor. You are offering to be a healer uniquely and personally for that patient. It comes from your heart, but must also reach out to the heart of every patient to be fulfilled.”

A message left in the pocket of a student's white coat with words of wisdom from Jenifer and Steve Luck, both alums

Messages of support written by medical school alumni were tucked into a pocket of each white coat.

The Harleys and their granddaughter stand together with Dean Jones

Anastasia Wass was coated by her grandparents, Dr. Millicent Collins Harley and Dr. Earl Harley (pictured to her right and left). Dr. Earl Harley is the namesake of a School of Medicine Learning Society. He administered the Oath of Hippocrates at the ceremony.

Bridget Clare and Dean Jones stand together

The Class of 2028 comprises 66.5% women — the largest female cohort at Georgetown’s School of Medicine to date. (Pictured here: Bridget Clare with Dean Lee Jones)

Dylan Hughes, who was a 2022 School of Medicine ARCHES Fellow, received his white coat.

Physios who are incoming School of Medicine students stand together on the steps of Healy Hall

Thirty-three alumni of the Georgetown Special Masters Program (SMP) became part of the Class of 2028. (Image by Thomas Sherman)

GEMS program graduates who are incoming into the School of Medicine stand together on the steps of Healy Hall

This year’s entering School of Medicine class includes nine students who successfully completed the Georgetown GEMS Post-Baccalaureate program. (Image by Thomas Sherman)

Yuki Cui is flanked by his father and Dr. Jones

Yuki Cui (M’28) is one of five students who graduated from Georgetown’s School of Health in this year’s incoming medical school class; 12 Hoyas in the class are from other Georgetown schools. Cui was coated by his father Dr. Wanxing Cui.

Jourdain LeMaster and his wife flank Dean Jones at the White Coat ceremony

Jourdain LeMaster was coated by his wife, Eliana, currently a resident in orthopedic surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.

School of Medicine students stand in Gaston Hall and recite the Hippocratic Oath

After their “coating,” the students recited the Oath of Hippocrates.

Clarisa Mendoza Peña speaks from a podium

In a newer tradition at Georgetown that reflects the diversity of each incoming class, several students recited a line from the Oath of Hippocrates in another language. Pictured is Clarisa Mendoza Peña.