Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About the White Coat Ceremony

The first day of medical school represents the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and determination for first-year medical students. It also represents the official first step on their journeys to becoming doctors. In honor of this momentous occasion, many medical schools hold formal ceremonies in which medical students are presented with their white lab coats. Here’s a closer look at this exciting rite of passage known as the White Coat Ceremony (WCC).

The History of the White Coat

Many medical schools kick off the year with white coat ceremonies, which may leave you wondering: What’s the deal with white coats and doctors anyway? In short, according to “The Doctor's White Coat--an Historical Perspective,” an article published in the AMA Journal of Ethics, ““The white coat has served as the pre-eminent symbol of physicians for over 100 years.”

However, doctors and the color white weren’t always interlinked. In fact, prior to the late-19th century and early 20th-century, medical doctors traditionally wore black to signify the solemnity of the profession. It wasn’t until the turn of the century that medicine became associated more with healing than with death.

As science entered the picture and doctors became more respected than feared, many trained physicians began wearing white coats both as a demonstration of their credentials and for practical matters: white’s non-fading qualities made it the best candidate for washing at germ-killing temperatures and preventing contamination.

Since that time, the white coat has evolved to become -- alongside the stethoscope and the black doctor’s bag -- a symbol of authority, trust, honor and respect.

A Tradition Begins

While the white coat itself has a rich history, the WCC is relatively new. In fact, the first official WCC didn’t take place until the early 1990s. Developed by teacher and pediatric neurologist Dr. Arnold P. Gold “to bring a humanistic focus to medicine,” the tradition now welcomes future doctors -- as well as other healthcare professionals, such as nurses, osteopaths, physicians assistants, pharmacists, and vets -- to their medical careers while simultaneously reminding them of their obligations to both care for and about their patients.

However, the ceremony also has personal meaning for many of its participants. One American student told a local newspaper, “I’m excited! This is something I’ve worked really hard for, this journey’s been long, it’s been kind of difficult for me personally. I’m really proud of myself and I’m really encouraged just to be here today.”

Despite its newness, the tradition has grown remarkably over the past 25 years: Today, a whopping 99 percent of AAMC-accredited medical schools in the US, as well as medical schools in 19 other countries, 20 schools of nursing, and many PA programs hold WWCs.

What to Expect at Your WCC

Not all WCCs are the same. In fact, while most take place on the first day of school, at orientation or even as a first “official” lesson, some schools delay the event until students have completed an initial period of study. While having to wait for their white coats may initially be disappointing, many say the later schedule not only serves as an incentive during their rigorous medical studies, but also that they feel more deserving and at ease in their coats when they finally get them.

And while the specifics of every WCC are left in the hands of each medical school, WCCs do share some commonalities. For starters, most WCCs aren’t just about and for students, but also about and for their families. Expect speeches by medical school faculty, physicians and guest speakers as well as an introduction to the Hippocratic Oath before the main event: the calling of your name and the bestowing of your coat. (Some WCC ceremonies also give out stethoscopes at this time.)

Aspiring doctor Sarina Amin wrote for the AAMC of her own WCC experience, “The atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation. After spending hours in undergraduate years studying to prepare for medicine and striving to get into medical school, the day is finally upon you. The day not only marks the beginning of a medical career, but also the vow to become a lifelong learner as a physician. From that day, each patient you meet will be a new experience and teach you about healing, illness, hardship and human emotion.”

Amin also shared a few tips. She advises participants in the WCC ceremony to dress for this important (and oft-photographed) occasion. (On a logistical note, she cautions against wearing a suit jacket which can become unwieldy when putting on the coat.) She also recommends making sure to thank your family for their support throughout your journey, as well as setting some time aside to reflect on the experience and what it means to you.

One last thing worth keeping in mind for future doctors as they prepare to begin medical schools? While white coats are indeed symbolically significant, successfully diagnosing and treating patients ultimately relies on something else: the people wearing them.