White Coat Ceremony Puns

We need to get with the times.

My classmates and I were thinking about advocating to our OT department to have a white coat ceremony. As it stands we are the only program in the allied health school without one and us students are tired of being left out.

We have a list of pros (professional respect, highly symbolic keepsake and ceremony) and cons (costs money, we shouldn’t be wearing it in front of patients)

I was looking for other opinions as to the pros and cons of this up-and-coming trend in our profession

I'm a med student out in Florida, and in a few weeks, I'll have my white coat ceremony. For those of you who don't know, that's a HUGE deal for us- its something of a rite of passage. Its a celebration of how far we've come, our achievements so far, and a recognition of our entry into our profession. My parents are driving for hours for this from Arkansas, they're super excited to meet my classmates, I'm excited for them to meet my classmates, and I'm super excited about the whole thing!

There's just one problem- I'm also in a weird position dating-wise. I've been dating someone for about a month (started AFTER I got to school) and I'd say we've entered boyfriend-girlfriend territory. I'm from a culture where dating is a huge no-no, and if my girlfriend were to come to white coat, she'd meet my parents. I enjoy her company and think she's a wonderful person, but I've always had a personal policy that if I date someone, I'm not going to introduce them as an SO until we're sure we want to get married- I've stood by this through a few shorter term relationships (lasted a few months apiece). I know that revealing an SO will unleash a firestorm of near-biblical proportions in my family and could have repercussions for my little brother, so I want to be sure before my parents meet an SO of mine. My girlfriend and I have talked about this, and she's completely in agreement with my logic.

My girlfriend isn't in medicine, and didn't know how important the ceremony was for me until I told her about how none of my sample coats fit me (I'm super short). We haven't had a conversation about the actual ceremony yet, but I can tell she might want to come, which is problematic. This might make me a bit of a dick, but she also has not been a part of my journey to med school in the same way that my parents and brother have, and it feels like this might be a moment I should share with those people specifically.

SO, with all of that in mind, I'm torn. I know that my girlfriend's feelings will be hurt if I ask her not to come to the ceremony, and that's a hard thing to put her through. At the same time, we're definitely not at the stage where either of us are comfortable meeting each other's parents, and certainly not at the point where I could feel comfortable defending this particular relationship to my parents.

2nd year SPT here, some of my classmates are pushing to have a white coat ceremony started at our program. Anyone else think it is a bit overkill and unneeded? I understand celebrating accomplishments of the students, but it seems like just another event to try to get a good instagram photo of. Not to mention I've never met a PT who wears a white coat. Thoughts on it? Did you like having one if your school had a white coat ceremony?

My mom died unexpectedly 3 months ago. She was my and my sister's biggest supporter. She'd do anything for us, and she would brag to all of her co-workers and friends about us all the time.

I am in medical school, and today I received my first white coat. We receive these in a ceremony for all our friends and family to watch, to celebrate the end of our classroom training before we go on rotations. It was one of the proudest and most difficult moments of my life. I am an absolute mess. All of the other families celebrated, while my dad, sister and I wept.

I want my mom back, and I would have given anything to have her there. She was there for me through everything, and she deserved to see her daughter be coated.

I have a friend who went through her white coat ceremony in August. She told me she was going to be a legit pharmacist in 2022, having graduated with her doctorate. Her specialization is in oncology and pharmacology. 3 years seems kind of short and she was a pre-pharmacy junior in 2017. I’m unaware of the schooling and I would like come clarification. Thanks in advance.

Hi guys, I’m an incoming M1 and I’m really so excited to finally start medical school. It’s silly but I’ve been looking forward to celebrating my white coat ceremony with my family ever since I decided to pursue medicine. I only just recently decided on where I’m going to medical school, and I had just found out about when my white coat ceremony will be.

I have a super close relationship with my dad (my mother and I have been estranged for years), but when I told him when white coat ceremony was, he told me he was unable to go due to a big trip he had planned & paid for in full (it’s an expensive trip and he can’t get his money back). I didn’t know about this trip at all, and while I understand the constraints on him, I can’t help but feel disappointed. Besides my parents, most of my family live abroad and wouldn’t be able to come.

Has anyone else done white coat ceremony without their family? How have you coped with it? I know it’s just one ceremony, but I just feel so disappointed that my family won’t be there.

TLDR; family can’t attend white coat ceremony, any advice/suggestions on coping?

EDIT: thanks so much for all of your advice and suggestions! I know my dad is disappointed in not coming but I definitely understand and am no longer upset. I will just try and enjoy the day for what it is and hopefully find others in my class who are in a similar situation. In the grand scheme of things I’d much rather him be there for graduation and match day, so his absence during white coat is definitely going to be missed but not that big of a deal. Thank you all for providing me with some perspective!

This is our year fellas/gals/xals .

Let's get those acceptances.

UPDATE: Thanks for the responses, I am a Reddit newbie and didn't know what to expect but definitely appreciate all of these perspectives. The vibe I'm getting is it's more important for your fam & friends to see you go through and, conveniently, my family isn't able to come and none of my friends who might care are able to either. I'm also not super into the whole "pomp and circumstance" of it all and may not enjoy it very much anyway. I'll make every effort to attend both and get the experience but I'm definitely going to the game.

ORIG: I am a die-hard college football fan but live 2k miles from my Alma mater, so I've only been to 2 games in the 9 years since I graduated. ~5 years ago my school scheduled a game in my neck of the woods and I have been actively stoked ever since to go to the game. I just learned my white coat ceremony is the same morning as the game...theoretically, if the game is at 7pm I could go to the ceremony in the morning and get to the game; if the game is any earlier I'll likely have to skip the ceremony.

My question: how crucial is this ceremony? Am I going to regret missing it?

Well it’s time for some of us (the lucky ones) to move on to r/medicalschool.

Come get ur white coats and idc if your school doesn’t do the white coat ceremony til like year 2

🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼 get em while they’re hot

Hello r/medschool!

I'm attending my girlfriend's white coat ceremony this weekend and wanted to know what to expect. Obviously, it will vary by school, but in general...is this a formal event? I can't tell if I should wear a suit or not. Also, would this be something to bring flowers to give as she finishes up, or is it much more casual?

Basically I want to be prepared, but also don't want to be the out-of-towner who doesn't know how this stuff works. Any tips/recs?

My parents live in a different country, while I am in the US. They are thrilled that I will be attending medical school and want to attend the white coat ceremony. Is the ceremony worth attending? Because of orientation, I probably won't be able to spend that much time with my parents before the ceremony, and flights are nearly $2000 a ticket. Is the white coat ceremony worth it for the parents?

This weekend marks a monumental occasion in the lives of myself and my peers studying veterinary medicine. We have been through 3 grueling years trudging our way through this program which has all amalgamated to this milestone: The White Coat Ceremony. This event represents our entrance into our final and clinical year of veterinary school where we will finally be able to apply the knowledge we have accrued throughout our rotations with real clients and patients. The white coat we are about to receive represents the dedication that we have put into our studies of science and medicine, as well as the trust the the public imparts on veterinarians to act professionally, ethically and dutifully when caring for their animals. So it's like a big deal.

Ok skip to the actual event - deans give their speeches, family and friends attending the event are misty eyed, half the class already have received their white coats are gleaming with pride after this momentous transformation. I am standing in line waiting to walk that stage to accept the coveted white coat. A classmate informs me that I've missed a belt loop. Shit. On what is the biggest day of my professional career so far how could I have messed this up so badly...little did I know what was about to transpire on that stage in a few moments. I compose myself, and think no one will notice, and once I have my ~white coat~ my belt-loop blunder won't even be visible.

I take a deep breath as my name is called and I proudly stride across the stage straight towards one of my professors (and coordinator of final year students) who is waiting to assist me in putting on this coat. He greets me with a warm smile and offers me a few words of encouragement. I slip my right arm in and turn my back so that my left can follow suit. I overshot it. My left arm reaches just slightly too far back, slips in behind the coat and before I can realize my miscalculation my arm is grazing up and down the...front.. of said professors body attempting hopelessly to find the sleeve. He jumps back nervously and grabs my arm. I freeze in panic as it finally begins to don on me what has just happened. He guides my arm back into the sleeve of my coat and gives me a tap on the shoulder. "What were ya reaching for there?" he snidely comments. "Any opportunity to practice my palpations, right sir?". Applause and laughter ensued as I walked off the stage, equally mortified and proud. All in all a pretty memorable day.

TL;DR Went to re

My boyfriend is getting his white coat for Physical Therapy this weekend and I’m not sure what to get him. I would get him flowers, but he’s definitely not a flowers type of guy.

Asking for a friend

Perhaps its a bit of personal bias being a medical student, but why must other healthcare professions try to convince themselves and the public that they play the same role as physicians in the healthcare system.

Hi y'all. I recently saw a friend get into nursing school and she has a white coat ceremony. I had always assumed that a white coat ceremony was done at the doctoral level (or for PAs). I have no problem with it, of course, but I was wondering why they have a white coat ceremony if nurses don't wear white coats.

Don't get me wrong they have every right to do that and they have certainly earned it. It is a huge accomplishment.

I just realize I get so depressed since that day seems to be rather far away at this time. I am happy for them. I'm upset for myself.

Would love some advice on what to buy! Is there anything that would help a lot during M1?

Title!

My girlfriend’s sister is having a dinner to celebrate her white coat ceremony from UCSF early next month, and I think I have enough time to get a decent gift for her.

I figured a pen would be a nice, adultesque gift because I’m assuming doctors write lots of notes (lol???)

I am a bit of a noob, so I’m wondering what a good pen would be for around $40-$60. Thank you!

Hi all! I joined this sub when my (20F) bf (22M) got into med school this past summer. I really like reading posts from everyone here since I didn’t know what to expect with this new journey he and I are on!

Tomorrow is his white coat ceremony. It’s probably not a big deal what I wear but I’ll be meeting his classmates/colleagues for the first time and I want to make a good impression!

Dress and heels? Dress pants and blouse? Leggings and turtleneck? Jeans and a t-shirt?

Any advice is very appreciated.

Life is good.

I have to make my decision about changing program paths by Friday but I think I'm going to do it. I'll have a 45 minute drive four days a week instead of two, but it costs the same overall and I'd finish a year sooner. That makes the full-time less expensive in the long run - less loans for living expenses and sooner repayment. I have many other goals that require money (house, wedding, dog!!) so I think the added stress and workload will be worth the financial benefit. It's definitely feasible.

I've only really been leaving the house to go to the gym.

1. What are some worthwhile activities to start doing right now?

2. Any book/show recommendations?

3. Anyone going to skim through some anatomy? My school recommends it.

4. Additional ideas?

Just as the title says it’s my girlfriends white coat ceremony this weekend. Do most people get flowers or is that more of a graduation thing? Thanks!

The PA school is coming to an end in two months ( Yaayy!!) The White Coat ceremony is right around the corner. I am wondering who did you invite to your white coat ceremony?