A rite of passage for new medical students

Minhaj Rahman takes the class selfie after this year’s Robert L. & Lillian H. Brent White Coat Ceremony. (University of Rochester photo / J. Adam Fenster)

During the School of Medicine and Dentistry’s annual Robert L. & Lillian H. Brent White Coat Ceremony, first-year medical students don brand new white coats that symbolize the start of their journey to becoming medical professionals.

This year’s event, which recognized more than 100 future doctors in the Class of 2025, took place on August 13 at the Larry and Cindy Bloch Alumni and Advancement Center—with the participants’ health and safety top of mind. University of Rochester photographer J. Adam Fenster was on site to document the tradition.

A line of medical students wearing business casual outfits and masks before the ceremony.

Sydney Barrett and her fellow first-year medical students wait in line before the ceremony.

Ramya Sampath stands at a podium in a white coat with blue, yellow, and white lights shining overhead.

During the student address, Ramya Sampath ’23 tells the Class of 2025, “This education will change you profoundly. But that core that is you—uniquely you—that is who we need here.”

Female student wearing a masks gets help putting on her white coat.

David Kaufman assists Erica Anderson with her white coat.

Student wearing slacks, shirt, tie, and mask has someone help him with his white coat.

Jonathan Perrier gets help with his coat from Anne Nofziger.

Wide angle shot of students donning their white coats and masks while reciting their code of conduct in unison.

The newest medical students at the University of Rochester recite the code of conduct.

Two males in masks embrace outdoors surrounded by a few others.

Wasim Zatar hugs his cousin, Said Shukri, outside of the Bloch Alumni and Advancement Center after the ceremony.

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