Meet the College of Medicine Coaters

Congratulations to this year’s College of Medicine White Coat Ceremony Student Coaters!

The Student Coaters place white coats on the first-year medicine students during the ceremony, which denotes a new student’s role as a future physician, and the many responsibilities that come with it. 

These six second-year medicine students were nominated by their peers and exhibit the qualities of ethical leadership, academic success, community and campus involvement, and truly stand out as role models.

The Class of 2027 College of Medicine White Coat Ceremony will take place at 11 a.m., Friday, July 21 in the NEW Center Ballroom. 

MEET THE COATERS

Nathaniel Abdelnour

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

Advice for M1s: One piece of advice that I would provide to the incoming class would be to put yourself out there! Try your best to achieve all that you can during your four years here at NEOMED! If you persevere and maintain a positive mindset, I believe you can achieve anything you set your mind to. 

Balakrishna Brahmandam

Hometown: Pickerington, Ohio

Advice for M1s: My advice for the incoming M1 class would be to take medical school one day at a time and not to spread yourself too thin. Also, to take care of yourself and have a balance between studying and enjoying free time. Finally, enjoy your time and have fun during medical school with your peers, classmates and friends.

Sean Hergenrother

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

Advice for M1s: Medical school is an incredibly unique opportunity to grow not only as a student, but as a human. Take time to reflect on the progress you have made and cherish your time with friends.

Marian Khalil

Hometown: Born and raised in Egypt and later moved to Strongsville, Ohio while in high school.

Advice for M1s: The best piece of advice I could give you is to be adaptable and flexible as much as you can. Every class is different from another and sometimes you will have to use new resources and study strategies for each one. So, do not be scared if you have to hit the “reset button” at the beginning of each new block. Figure out what works best for each class and most importantly YOU and stick with it. You are the captain of your own ship. 

Kareem Muakkassa

Hometown: Akron, Ohio.

Advice for M1s: My advice for incoming students is to always approach new situations with positivity. Having a positive outlook before going into class, lab or clinics can lead to many more exciting opportunities and engagement with the material. Best of luck!

Shashank Raghavachari

Hometown: Solon, Ohio

Advice for M1s: It can be so easy for new students to compare themselves with others and be unsure if they're doing too little or too much in their school preparation. Know that every student goes through a trial-and-error phase in the first few months to figure out what works best for them individually. How one person successfully approaches the challenges of med school won't be the same as anyone else's and that's perfectly okay. I also want incoming students to know that it is very possible to balance school with the activities each person enjoys, especially when self-care and wellness are made priorities. In my opinion and experience, it's so important to create a life and identity for yourself outside of school that can help support you or give you a mental rest through the challenges that come with school.