Celebrating the Tradition of the
White Coat Ceremony

New students of the UAG International Program recently participated in the celebration of the traditional White Coat Ceremony wherein they vowed to tend to their patients with honor, humanism, and quality always having the patient’s best interests at heart.

This very solemn yet motivating event took place in the Auditorium of the Biological Sciences Institute. Dr. Ricardo León Bórquez, Dean of the School of Medicine, administered the Hippocratic Oath, which focuses on ethical and moral principles to be followed during their professional career.

Hippocrates, the most famous physician of old, was born in the Island of Cos, Greece and was called the “Father of Medicine”. From his era, it has been a custom for all physicians to take the Oath of Hippocrates.

Dr. Francisco Martinez Sandoval, Dean of the International Program in Medicine, stated that the UAG recently implemented this tradition. The White Coats began back in the 19th Century when a group of physicians broke from tradition and embraced the new world of science.

In the beginning, the White Coat was used solely in the laboratories to symbolize the transformation before their patients. Dr. Martinez expressed that the White Coat is a symbol of the physician’s knowledge and authority.

After this ceremony, the new medical students will wear all white – white coat, shirts, pants and shoes – which sets them apart from students studying other careers.

Parents and friends of the new students were in attendance as they attentively watched them take the oath.

Ms Adriana Rojo, Director of the International Student Affairs office in Guadalajara, Dr. Guillermo Villalobos, Associate Director of the Clinical Area of the International Program and Dr. Maria Elena Torres, Chief of the Department of Physiology were also present. Two UAG graduates – Dr. Stuart Tashman from the United States and Dr. Arnaldo Marrero Rodriguez from Puerto Rico also enjoyed this very moving ceremony.

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