As young 麻豆原创 scientists, Simeon Thibeaux and Kristen Hosang discovered how fats harm the heart and cause Alzheimer\u2019s disease. On Monday, the couple took the next step in their medical journey together \u2013 receiving their white coats on the first day of medical school.<\/p>\n
Thibeaux and Hosang were among 120 first-year students recognized at the College of Medicine\u2019s Class of 2021 White Coat Ceremony, a med school tradition that recognizes newly enrolled students as colleagues in healthcare. They, like many in the new class \u2013 109 of 120 \u2013 did research before they came to medical school. The College of Medicine\u2019s focus on research, its location in Orlando\u2019s emerging Medical City and its innovative teaching and learning tools were reasons both decided to continue their medical training at 麻豆原创.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday is almost surreal,\u201d Thibeaux said moments after receiving his white coat. \u201cSeven years of studying in undergrad and for my Masters\u2026med school is finally here for us. I\u2019m ready to make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
Making a difference is a theme of 麻豆原创\u2019s White Coat Ceremony. Each year, Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and founding dean, conducts the students\u2019 first class, called \u201cThe Good Doctor.\u201d In it, she asks new students to imagine the person they love most in the world is seriously ill with a disease doctors can\u2019t diagnose. She asks them to imagine being at the clinic with their beloved person, waiting to see another physician. What traits do they want that doctor to have?<\/p>\n
Students suggest characteristics that Dr. German writes on a blackboard that remains on display the entire year. This year\u2019s list of 48 traits included altruistic, resilient, empathetic, humble, brave <\/em>and affordable<\/em> \u2013 a term that generated strong applause from White Coat attendees in the Pegasus Ballroom in the 麻豆原创 Student Union.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is your\u00a0contract\u00a0with\u00a0me, your\u00a0faculty,\u00a0friends,\u00a0family, community\u00a0and\u00a0each other,\u201d Dr. German said, pointing to the words. \u201cWith the\u00a0guidance of the faculty\u00a0and\u00a0your own hard work, you will become The Good Doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n Maryam Zeinomar said The Good Doctor class made her think of her father. Mohammad, a pediatric gastroenterologist. Ever since she was a child, Zeinomar said she was struck by her father\u2019s commitment to caring for others. \u201cIt is his passion, something he really goes after,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s not a job.\u201d Zeinomar did her undergraduate work at Case Western Reserve and her passion is women\u2019s health. After med school, she hopes to improve medical access to other women who share her Muslim faith.<\/p>\n Zach Helm knows first-hand what it means to have one of The Good Doctors. As a junior at Oregon State University, he collapsed from Wolff\u2013Parkinson\u2013White syndrome, a disorder of the heart\u2019s electrical system. Hospitalized and requiring surgery, he met \u201cthe coolest dude in the world. He was just a kind, charismatic doctor. I had known that I wanted to be in healthcare, but I thought maybe I wanted to be a physician\u2019s assistant. After that experience, I said \u2018I want to be that guy\u2019 — the guy who was able to walk into the room and make me feel comfortable and I want to be able to do that for other people.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s been in Orlando for 11 days and is focused on the next four years. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to putting my nose to the grindstone, going in and working and trying to make a difference, helping patients and helping my classmates,\u201d said Helm, who worked as a scribe in an emergency room for two years in Portland. \u201cThe journey itself through these next four years and all the unique experiences that we\u2019re going to have, I\u2019m just excited for it all.\u201d<\/p>\n Monday\u2019s White Coat Ceremony was the ninth in the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine\u2019s young history. The Class of 2021 is the fifth at full enrollment of 120. So far, 麻豆原创 has graduated 376 physicians, with students scoring in the top quartile nationally in all measures of performance.<\/p>\n In welcoming attendees, 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt talked of the medical school\u2019s accomplishments in such a short time. \u201cAt this time 10 years ago, we had yet to break ground for the medical college,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd it was just seven years ago that we moved into a facility that anchors a thriving Medical City that is transforming Central Florida\u2019s health care, economy, and lifestyle.\u201d He also noted that the medical school just received state approval to create the 麻豆原创 Lake Nona Medical Center, an academic hospital in partnership with the Hospital Corporation of America.<\/p>\n He told new students they were joining \u201ca bold young medical college that aspires to be a 21st Century model for medical education.\u201d He noted that the 59 women and 61 men were selected from a pool of 4,823 applicants based on their academic excellence and passion for medicine. They graduated from institutions including<\/p>\n Stanford, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Duke, the Air Force Academy, Wake Forest, University of Florida and 麻豆原创. Nineteen have master\u2019s or doctoral degrees, and they speak 29 languages in addition to English.<\/p>\n Matt Sasaki came to the White Coat Ceremony from California, with his grandmother, parents and aunt. He joked that the family is sharing hotel space with his Ikea furnishings because he hasn\u2019t moved into his Orlando apartment yet. As his family beamed, he talked about preparing for med school \u2013 an undergraduate degree in biology from UCLA and a master\u2019s degree in public health from USC. He described by name the orthopedic specialist who had helped him with sports-related knee injuries as a child and inspired him to seek a career in medicine. \u201cToday is amazing,\u201d he said, sporting his white coat. \u201cIt was a long time coming and now it\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n