Future dentists and hygienists mark their entry into the profession at White Coat Ceremonies

Whether sitting in the seats at the Louisville Palace or watching live on YouTube, hundreds of family and friends showed their support for dental students and dental hygiene students at two White Coat ceremonies events on Saturday, August 28. The first event, held at 10 a.m., honored members of the DMD class of 2024, Advanced Standing class of 2023 and Dental Hygiene class of 2022. These students were unable to have their White Coat Ceremony last year due to the pandemic. Later in the day, a separate ceremony was held for new students from the DMD class of 2025 and Dental Hygiene class of 2023. 

During the ceremony, students don their white coat and recite a pledge accepting responsibility to patients, the profession and the community. Dr. Alma Ljaljevic-Tucakovic, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions, says “the ceremony of donning the white coat is a significant event for every future health care professional because it signifies their entry into the field.” She adds that this year’s event was doubly special because it didn’t take place last year.  “We have realized how much we missed honoring our students with ceremony like this during last year when we could not gather.”

Emily McCormick from the DMD class of 2024 says the one-year delay was disappointing, but that COVID-19 has made her class stronger. “I believe my class is the most resilient class because we’ve jumped through so many hurdles over the whole COVID year. It’s an honor to have our white coats finally presented to us.” McCormick added that it was fun to see her classmates in a different way. “We’re usually in scrubs, no makeup, our hair’s not fixed. It’s good to see us all nice and looking all fresh!”

Mamdouh Yasin, who is also in the DMD class of 2024, says there is something else that makes their class special: its people. “The diversity in the class, the different people, the different personalities. We all come together.”