The LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine will hold its annual White Coat Ceremony on Sept. 22 at 10 a.m. at the Jung Hotel Grand Hall, 1500 Canal Street in New Orleans. This year, 202 members of the LSU Health New Orleans Medical School Class of 2022 will receive white coats, a visible symbol of patient care. During the ceremony, students are “coated” by faculty members chosen by the class for their commitment to medical education and their students.
According to the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, the cloaking with the white coat—the mantle of the medical profession—is a hands-on experience that underscores the bonding process. The coat is 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.
Following the coating, the class will recite its Oath of Ideals. Each class develops its own Oath of Ideals.
The White Coat Ceremony is a tradition begun at LSU Health New Orleans’ School of Medicine in 1997.