At the Renaissance School of Medicine's (RSOM) White Coat Ceremony, 136 new students began their medical training by taking the Hippocratic Oath and donning their white coats for the first time. The event took place at Stony Brook University's Staller Center on August 9. This ceremony has been a tradition since 1998.
The Class of 2028 is notably selective, with only eight percent of applicants gaining admission. These students hail from 57 different colleges across the United States, with Stony Brook University having the highest representation at 33 students. Approximately 75 percent of these students are from New York State.
Peter Igarashi, MD, Knapp Dean of RSOM, addressed the class, emphasizing that they are entering medicine during a period of rapid evolution in medical practices and technological advancements such as telemedicine. He stressed RSOM's dedication to science-based medicine and encouraged maintaining strong doctor-patient relationships.
The motivations driving these students to pursue medicine vary widely but include personal experiences with family illnesses, a commitment to service, and interest in biotechnology advances.
Gabriel Chan from Long Island was inspired by his grandfather's Parkinson’s diagnosis and has joined RSOM’s Medical Scientist Training Program after conducting research in France as a Fulbright Scholar.
Reinaldo Powell chose medicine following his mother's death from lymphoma when he was young. He graduated from Stony Brook with a degree in Health Sciences and feels aligned with RSOM’s educational approach.
Juan Diego Carvajal Ramirez served as a combat medic in the U.S. Army, which fueled his interest in trauma surgery. Pamela Chen also draws inspiration from her military experience; she is motivated by her father's early death due to Parkinson’s disease and her upbringing in foster care.
Emily Cahill worked at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals before enrolling at RSOM. Her involvement in patient-care communication programs at Johns Hopkins University led her to focus on pediatrics.
Henry Wilmot previously worked in biotech consulting but sought more direct patient interaction influenced by his family's service-oriented careers.