VCU news

By Joe Kuttenkuler

Their journey is just beginning, but students in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine's Class of 2007 recently received perhaps the most important symbol of their quest for a medical degree - their white coats.

"Professionalism begins early...the coat has great responsibility attached to it," James Messmer, M.D., senior associate dean for medical education in the School of Medicine told students. "Your coat signifies knowledge and compassion...remember, caring is an important part of curing."

During the ceremony, family and friends looked on as each of the 184 students in the Class of 2007 came forward and was helped into their coat by a senior faculty member. The annual White Coat Ceremony is a tradition at many Schools of Medicine marking the beginning of a student's medical education.

Paul Fairman, M.D., a pulmonologist in the Department of Internal Medicine, was the keynote speaker for the ceremony. Fairman, who received a Faculty Teaching Excellence Award from the School of Medicine in 2001, told students to remember they are unique - and yet, just like everyone else.

"We celebrate the promise of your career with a white coat. You have been given great gifts and support from family and friends. You each have unique qualities, but you all will be together in this voyage."

Fairman also cautioned students to not let the science of medicine get in the way of 'seeing' patients.

"Your patients will be handing their lives over to you. As you develop your skills, be careful not to start seeing them as a condition by only focusing on the disease," said Fairman.

This year's class, divided almost equally between women and men, was selected from a pool of 3,911 applicants. Students hail from 74 colleges in 25 states - 23 are from VCU.