White Coat Symbolises Medical Student Advancement to Clinical Training
240 Stage 4 Medicine students were “robed” with a symbolic white coat at an academic ceremony to formally recognise the progression of students into full time clinical training. Students were reminded of the unique privilege which society bestows on them and the attendant responsibility to “Do good for the health of the people they serve.”White Coat Ceremony Recognises Medical Student Advancement To Full-Time Clinical Training
Students and staff of the UCD School of Medicine & Medical Science celebrated the progression of Stage 4 medical students into their formal clinical training programme with a ‘White Coat Ceremony’ in O’Reilly Hall, UCD on Wednesday 27th January 2010. The importance of this academic progression to wider society was emphasised through the keynote address delivered by Prof Kieran Murphy, President, Medical Council of Ireland.
240 stage 4 medical students were “robed” with their white coats by clinical academics at a special ceremony designed to draw attention to the academic progression of students into full-time clinical training. According to Professor Bill Powderly, Dean of Medicine, the white coat symbolises not just the historical authority of the physician but moreover, the responsibility of physicians to put the interest of their patients first.
“Society gives us as doctors a unique privilege – a social contract in the form of a trust that is not given lightly. It provides considerable status as part of that social contract and has a simple expectation in return: Do good for the health of the people you serve.” Professor Powderly told the 240 students receiving their white coats.
Although clinical education is introduced from day one, the presenting of the white coat at this stage signifies the students’ progression to full-time clinical stage of their medical education at UCD School of Medicine. Sixty of the students will now be returning to Penang Medical College in Malaysia, where they will complete their clinical training. The remainder will continue their education at UCD through the university’s six major Dublin teaching hospitals, the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, St. Vincent's University Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital, the Coombe Women's Hospital, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children and the Children's University Hospital at Temple Street. Clinical training is also provided at a number of other affiliated hospitals and health care facilities around the country, including Midlands Regional Hospital - Tullamore, Wexford General Hospital, St. Columcille's Hospital Loughlinstown, the National Rehabilitation Hospital, St Mary’s Hospital, Royal Hospital Donnybrook, and Mount Carmel. UCD also has an extensive primary care clinical training network for students.
Although today students do not swear the traditional Hippocratic oath, according to Professor Powderly, they are expected to commit to a lifetime of medical education, to put the interests of patients before their own, to be tolerant, honest and compassionate. “Medical students are bound by the same professional commitments that bind all doctors – medical confidentiality and working for the good of patients.” he said.
