Joan C. Edwards Scholars Oluwapelumi Obasa and Manal Alkabani formally began their medical education at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine during the university’s White Coat Ceremony on July 12 at Severance Music Center.

The White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage that welcomes students into the medical profession across the U.S. emphasizing the compassion, humanism and responsibility expected in patient care. The modern tradition began in 1993 at Columbia University under the leadership of pediatric neurologist Dr. Arnold P. Gold and has since been adopted by medical schools around the world.

“The White Coat Ceremony is a tradition,” said Dr. Sahib Jamal, a former Edwards Scholar and pediatrician at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. “It’s basically the medical community welcoming the new medical students into the profession of medicine.”

Dr. Jamal said the ceremony also emphasizes what the white coat represents, both inside and outside a clinical setting.

“The ceremony is really imbuing the weight and responsibility of having the white coat and what it means to wear the white coat, both in patient settings and even when you’re not wearing it,” he said. “Knowing that you’re responsible whenever you hear the call for help.”

Dr. Heidi Gullett, assistant dean of student affairs at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, works with Edwards Scholars throughout their medical education. She provides personal and career advising while helping students navigate medical school and identify their professional interests.

“We help them navigate life in medical school and then help them find their passion once they’re on their way to graduate,” said Dr. Gullett. “It’s such a privilege to be a partner with them on the journey. ”

Dr. Gullett described the White Coat Ceremony as an important rite of passage that represents the combination of scientific knowledge, care and compassion required to practice medicine.

“It’s really where you don the white coat, which signifies the care and compassion that you’ll provide for other people and the grounding in science that the art and science of medicine is really all about,” she said. “I can’t wait to partner with these students and help them find their joy in medicine going forward.”