The 麻豆原创 College of Medicine welcomed 120 new medical students 鈥� its first class at full enrollment 鈥� at today鈥檚 White Coat Ceremony, a meaningful tradition where a medical school recognizes first-year students at colleagues dedicated to patient care.
The young medical school now has an enrollment of 360 鈥� a nine-fold increase in the last five years. By 2016-2017, 麻豆原创 will be educating 480 physicians-in-training a year.
鈥淛ust six years ago, we had yet to break ground on the medical college that made possible this morning鈥檚 White Coat Ceremony. And it was just three years ago that we moved into a facility that anchors a thriving Medical City,鈥� 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt said as he opened the ceremony. 鈥淭he remarkable rise of the College of Medicine underscores how landmark community achievements can evolve when people work together for the greater good.鈥�
The incoming Class of 2017 was selected from a pool of 3,843 applicants based on their academic excellence and passion for medicine. They averaged an MCAT score of 31 and a grade point average of 3.75 on a 4-point scale. They are graduates of institutions including Duke, Johns Hopkins, Brown, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Brigham Young, Vanderbilt, University of Florida, Florida State and 麻豆原创. The new medical students are song writers, actors, painters and dancers. They are athletes in sports ranging from lacrosse to Florida State鈥檚 Flying High Circus. The class includes a varsity swim team captain and a martial art stunt double. They are scientists, engineers, economists and humanities majors. Thirteen published medical research before ever coming to medical school.
They received their white coats from Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine after participating in their first class, 鈥淭he Good Doctor,鈥� which has become a 麻豆原创 White Coat tradition. It in, Dr. German tells students to imagine the person they love most in desperate need of medical care. What are the qualities the students want in the doctor who will treat their loved on? As the students suggest traits, Dr. German writes the words on a chalk board that remains on display throughout the school year.
This year鈥檚 class offered characteristics that included 鈥渃ourageous,鈥� 鈥減atient,鈥� respectful,鈥� 鈥渉onest,鈥� 鈥渃ollaborative鈥� and for the first time, 鈥渁ffordable,鈥� a term that generated laughter and much agreement from the audience.
鈥淭his is your聽contract聽with聽me 鈥� with your聽faculty,聽friends,聽family, community聽and聽each other,” Dr. German said as she reviewed the list with the students. 聽鈥淲ith the聽guidance of the faculty聽and聽your own hard work, you will become The Good Doctor.鈥�
She also introduced students to the College of Medicine faculty and staff, people she called 鈥渢he heart and soul of this medical school.鈥�
The faculty 鈥渃reated our College of Medicine from nothing and are now poised to expand it, always looking ahead,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur faculty has made an impact on our community and beyond. They are supported by a dedicated staff that works tirelessly to assure that every aspect of the college is excellent and is ready for our students.鈥�
Orientation for the new students begins Tuesday.
To watch White Coat Ceremony video: