Geisinger College of Health Sciences’ School of Medicine held its 17th annual White Coat Ceremony for the incoming Class of 2029 on August 1 at Marywood University in Scranton. The event marks a significant milestone for new medical students as they are formally welcomed into the profession.
During the ceremony, students took an oath recognizing their responsibilities as future physicians and their obligations to patients. They were then presented with white coats, symbolizing their entry into the medical field. The coats were provided by The Stanley J. Dudrick, M.D., and Alan G. Goldstein Endowed Fund.
Julie Byerley, M.D., M.P.H., president and dean of Geisinger College’s School of Medicine, addressed the new class: “We are thrilled to welcome our biggest class of future physicians. Our medical school was launched by visionary leaders who wanted to boost the number of doctors in our region. We are doing that, now with more than 1,200 alumni, including 88 who are working at Geisinger. Our vision is to inspire young people in the area to pursue medicine as a career, then educate them well and keep them serving our communities. It’s a joy to see this next class get their white coats as they progress along that journey.”
The ceremony also featured Michael Sulzinski, Ph.D., professor of immunology and microbiology at Geisinger’s School of Medicine, who delivered the Dr. Lester Saidman Memorial Lecture.
Geisinger College of Health Sciences serves as the academic and research branch of Geisinger and was established to improve community health through education and innovation across various programs such as graduate medical education, nursing, research institutes, and faculty development (https://www.geisinger.edu/gchs).
The college maintains a commitment to nondiscrimination in all employment and educational activities.
