The History of the White Coat Ceremony

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation founded The White Coat Ceremony at commencement exercises at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1993, where Dr. Arnold Gold has been a teacher and pediatric neurologist for more than forty years.

The Gold Foundation initiated commencement awards in 1991 for a faculty member and a student who best demonstrate both humanistic care and clinical excellence. In support of the awardees, Doctors Arnold and Sandra Gold regularly attended graduation exercises at Columbia where it is customary for medical students to recite the Hippocratic Oath. This noble 2,500 year old tradition obligates new doctors to high professional standards for patient care and the practice of medicine.

Dr. Gold became aware, as he witnessed Columbia’s graduation ceremony each year, that the recitation of the Hippocratic Oath, when students accept the obligations of our profession, comes four years too late. It is during medical school that students experience their initial contacts with patients and establish their professional orientation. The Foundation believes that medical students should be given well defined guidelines regarding the expectations and responsibilities appropriate for the medical profession prior to their first day of education and training. This is what inspired the Gold Foundation to begin advocacy and sponsorship of what has become the “White Coat Ceremony.”

Providing a ritual to mark the passage of the student into our medical society is as old as the Hippocratic Oath itself. Hippocrates administered an oath to students before their medical studies began, not after they were completed.

The Steven Z. Miller Student Clinician’s Ceremony

To empower the student entering the third year, a new “rite of passage” has been developed. This ceremony marking the transition has been designed to assist beginning third year medical students as they enter the clinical stage in their medical education.

The ceremony has three primary elements. The first is the presentation of a monetary award and certificate of recognition to six residents chosen as superb teachers and role models by members of the outgoing third year class. The second element is a gift for each member of the incoming third year class of a book and a survival guide to encourage them as they advance into their clinical studies. Finally, a keynote speaker, selected as an outstanding role model by members of the outgoing third year class, gives an inspiring address and a student-provided video is shown.

A noticeable benefit has been appreciable bonding among members of the second and third year students, faculty and residents.

The goals of the third year clinical transition include finding ways to alleviate anxiety as students meet their first patients, better preparing them for their hospital training, nurturing relationships among second and third year students and mentors, providing additional opportunities for communication and re-taking the Hippocratic Oath.

We lost Dr. Steven Z. Miller, faculty advisor for this event, pediatrician, colleague and friend, in a tragic small plane crash in Kirksville, Missouri in October 2004. The official name of the ceremony has been changed to reflect Steve’s memory and is now be known as the Steven Z. Miller Student Clinician’s Ceremony.

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award

Congratulations to the six recipients of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award. Chosen by the P&S Class of 2009

Keith Brenner, MD

Medicine

Timothy Egan, MD

Medicine

Emily Gilmore, MD

Neurology 

Craig A.N. Henson, MD

Surgery, Bassett

Gunjan Kamdar, MD

Pediatrics

Stephen Poon, MD

Urology

Class Day

P&S has over 40 named prizes awarded at commencement each May. These are endowed by generous gifts whose donors wished to recognize a person whose name is on the prize. They cover the gamut from compassionate patient care to participating in the community to outstanding leadership. In addition, 15% of the class is elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society, for outstanding academic achievement, leadership and service, and 12% to the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

The second honors convocation for P&S and was held Tuesday, May 20, the day before graduation, which was Wednesday, May 21.

Commencement

Each May, commencement ceremonies are held on both the Morningside and the Columbia University Medical Center campuses.

Commencement traditionally falls on the third Wednesday of May. In the morning, P&S graduates participate in the large Columbia University commencement ceremony at Low Plaza on the Morningside campus. The Columbia University President confers degrees and delivers the commencement address to nearly 10,000 Columbia graduates. Each faculty of the University presents its candidates. Medical school candidates, presented by the P&S dean, recite the Hippocratic Oath.

In the afternoon of that day, graduates receiving M.D. or Ph.D. degrees gather at the Armory Track and Field Center. A commencement speaker is identified by the fourth year medical school class. Notable speakers have included actor Alan Alda, Nobelist Harold Varmus, author Robert Coles, Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders, author Oliver Sacks, and astronaut Storey Musgrave. The Hippocratic Oath is recited again at this ceremony. Awards are bestowed on graduating students and faculty. The graduating class presents a distinguished teacher award. At this ceremony, graduating students receive their diplomas from the Dean of the Faculties of Medicine. A reception follows the graduation ceremony.

Graduation Prizes and Awards

Doctor Harry S. Altman Award	For outstanding achievement in Pediatric Ambulatory Care
Alumni Association Award	For outstanding service to the College of Physicians & Surgeons
Virginia P. Apgar Awards	For excellence in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care
Michael H. Aranow Memorial Prize	For best exemplifying the caring and humane qualities of the practicing physician
Herbert J. Bartelstone Award	For exceptional accomplishments in Pharmacology
The Edward J. Bello, M.D. Listening Award	To a graduating student who best portrays the art of listening to patients, colleagues and self in practicing the chosen field of Medicine
Robert G. Bertsch Memorial Award	To a graduate who best typifies Dr.Bertsch’s ideals of the humane surgeon
Coakley Memorial Prize	For outstanding achievement in Otolaryngology
Titus Munson Coan Prize	For the best essay in biological sciences
Thomas F. Cock Prize	For excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Rosamond Kane Cummins ’52 Award	To an outstanding student entering Orthopedics who exhibits academic excellence, sensitivity, kindness, devotion to patients, and the fine human qualities that she exemplified
The Endocrine Society’s Medical Student Achievement Award
Frederick P. Gay Memorial Award	For achievement in Microbiology
Louis Gibofsky Memorial Prize	For research in Nephrology, Immunology or Transplant Immunobiology
Glasgow-Rubin Achievement Awards	For women students graduating in the top 10 percent of their class
Dr. Charles E. Hamilton Award	For excellence in pulmonary disease
Janeway Prize	For the highest achievement and abilities in the graduating class
Albert B. Knapp Scholarship	Awarded at the conclusion of the 3rd year to the medical student evaluated by the Medical Faculty to have achieved the highest scholarship in the first three years
Doctor Harold Lamport Biomedical Research Prize	For excellence in research
John K. Lattimer Prize	For the outstanding essay in Urology
Barbara Liskin Memorial Award in Psychiatry	Awarded to a student with the empathy, scholarship and excellence exhibited by Barbara Liskin
Dr. Robert F. Loeb Award	For excellence in clinical medicine
The F. Lowenfish Prize	For creative research in Dermatology
Admiral David Willard Lyon Award	For outstanding academic achievement by a student serving in the Armed Forces of our country
Alfred M. Markowitz Endowment for Scholars	Exemplifies Dr. Markowitz’s dedication to patient care, teaching, and scholarship
The Leonard Marmor Surgical Arthritis Foundation Award	For outstanding academic achievements
Doctor Cecil G.Marquez B.A.L.S.O. Student Award for Excellence	For outstanding contribution to the Black and Latino Student Organization and the minority community
Edith and Denton McKane Memorial Award	For outstanding research in Ophthalmology
Medical Society of the State of New York Community Service Award
Medical Society of the State of New York	To a graduating student for outstanding community service
Dr. Harold Lee Meierhof Memorial Prize	For outstanding achievement in Pathology
The Doctors William Nastuk, Beatrice Seegal, Konrad Hsu Award	To a graduating student who has demonstrated successful laboratory collaboration between student and faculty
Marie Nercessian Memorial Award	For exhibiting Armenian descent who has shown care, unusual concern and dedication to helping sick people
New York Orthopedic Hospital Award	For outstanding performance in research and clinical work
The Office of Student Affairs Outstanding Service to P&S Award
Joseph Garrison Parker Award	Elected by classmates as exemplifying through activities in art, music, literature and the public interest the fact that living and learning go together
Samuel W. Rover and Lewis Rover Award	For outstanding achievement in research in Anatomy and Cell Biology
Samuel W. Rover and Lewis Rover Award	For outstanding achievement in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
Samuel W. Rover and Lewis Rover Award	For outstanding achievement in Genetics and Development
The Drs. Robert A. Savitt and George H. McCormack Award	Exemplifying Dr. George McCormack’s medical skill, consideration, understanding and compassion
Rebecca A. Schwarz Memorial Prize	For achievement in Pediatric Cardiology
Helen M. Sciarra Prize in Neurology	For outstanding achievement in Neurology
Aura Severinghaus Award	In recognition of superior academic achievement
The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award	For excellence in the specialty of Emergency Medicine
Miriam Berkman Spotnitz Award	For excellence in research and treatment of neoplastic diseases
Student Interest Group in Neurology Prize
The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award	Presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation for excellence in science and compassion in patient care
Dr. William Perry Watson Prize in Pediatrics	For excellence in Pediatrics
Dr. William Raynor Watson Memorial Award	For excellence in Psychiatry throughout 4 years of medical school
Dr. Allen O.Whipple Memorial Prize	For outstanding performance in Surgery
Sigmund L. Wilens Prize	For excellence in Pathology

Teachers of the Year

Distinguished Teacher Award

Each year, the various classes elect Teachers of the Year to whom they wish to express gratitude for excellence in teaching and service above and beyond the call of duty.

Class of 2008

Dr. Michael Yuan:
College of Dental Medicine

Class of 2009

Dr. Michael Yuan:
College of Dental Medicine

Third year students have the opportunity to learn from numerous outstanding faculty whom they wish to recognize as well as Distinguished Educators.  They are:

Dr. Sumit Mohan
Harlem Hospital

Dr. Noel Robin
Stamford Hospital

Class of 2010

Dr. Gerald Appel 
Department of Medicine

Dr. Vivette D'Agati
Department of Pathology

The second year curriculum is arranged in such a way that numerous faculty lead discussions, seminars, and lectures.  Those outstanding lectures and teachers are recognized below:

Distinguished Lecturer Awards by the Class of 2010:
Dr. Dickson Despommier
Dr. Jay Lefkowitch
Dr. Glen Markowitz
Dr. Donald Landry

Distinguished Teacher Awards by the Class of 2010:
Dr. Donald Landry
Dr. Peter Canoll
Dr. Stephen Canfield
Dr. Kurenai Tanji
Dr. Robert McConnell
Dr. Marcella Walker

Class of 2011

Dr. Michael Yuan
College of Dental Medicine

The Class of 2011 also recognizes outstanding lecturers below:

Distinguished Lecturer Award:
Dr. Jonathan Barasch
Dr. Wendy Chung
Dr. Letty Moss-Salentijn
Dr. Benjamin Taragin