NEOMED Faculty and Staff:
We wanted to make you aware of the changes for the COM and COP White Coat Ceremonies beginning in Fall 2019. Please note this does not impact the Fall 2018 White Coat ceremony which has already been scheduled for Monday, Sept. 17, 2018.
The COM White Coat Ceremony for the class entering Fall 2019 will be held on Friday, Aug. 2, 2019 at 4 p.m. The COP White Coat Ceremony will be held on Friday Aug. 23, 2019 at 4 p.m. in the NEW Center Ballroom.
Breaking from tradition in previous years, the COM White Coat ceremony for Fall 2019 will be held on a Friday afternoon, much earlier in the calendar year (August vs. September) and will be on a different day than the COP White Coat ceremony.
These changes are taking place for a few different reasons:
• With the academic calendar for academic year 2019-20, the start date of M1's will be much earlier than in previous years. As the White Coat ceremony traditionally takes place at the start of the academic year, the ceremony date is being moved to align as close to the beginning of matriculation as possible.
• Different academic schedules for COM and COP account for the difference in White Coat dates.
• Recognizing that this is a year in advance, this allows us the flexibility to plan course schedules around a Friday afternoon event.
• Having the event on a Friday afternoon will allow for greater attendance by guests, to accommodate those coming from out of town, and to allow the celebration to continue over the weekend. This is based on feedback provided by students.
White Coat is a very important occasion in the life of our new students and the university. Our intention is to provide you with this date as early as possible so that you can get it on your calendars and be in attendance.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the 2019 White Coat dates, please contact Ryan Palmer, rpalmer1@neomed.edu.
-Submitted by Harmony Stanger