White Coat Ceremony

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation White Coat Ceremony welcomes entering medical students and helps establish a psychological contract for the practice of medicine.

The event emphasizes the importance of compassionate care for the patient as well as scientific proficiency and includes several elements:

• Recitation of student-written oath which represents the public acknowledgment by the students of the responsibilities of the profession and their willingness to assume such obligations in the presence of family, friends, and faculty.
• Cloaking of students in their first white coats.
• An address by the recipient of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award.

At the ceremony, students are welcomed by their deans, or other respected leaders who represent the value system of the school and the new profession the students are about to enter.

The cloaking with the white coat—the mantle of the medical profession—is a hands-on experience that underscores the bonding process. It is personally placed on each student's shoulders by individuals who believe in the students’ ability to carry on the noble tradition of doctoring. It is a personally delivered gift of faith, confidence and compassion.

2022 White Coat Ceremony

The Class of 2026 White Coat Ceremony will take place on Friday July 22, 2022 at 10am at the Taft Theater (317 E 5th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202). The White Coat ceremony is an important milestone in your medical education. This will be the culminating event of your orientation week and is your formal induction into medical school. Because of its importance, many students will have family/loved ones present to share in this special moment. We recommend your guests consider making refundable travel arrangements, as plans may change based on COVID regulations. We anticipate the ability to fulfill most ticket requests. However, because of the ongoing pandemic, regulations and rules may shift or change at any time. Please continue to check back for updates.

2021 White Coat Ceremony