This summer, hundreds of medical, dental, nursing and health professional students took part in one of the most meaningful rituals of their academic journey: the White Coat Ceremony.
Across five of the six health professional schools — the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, School of Nursing, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Health Professions — students stepped onto the stage, slipped on crisp white coats and pledged to uphold the highest standards of care, integrity and service.
The white coat ceremony was created in 1993 by the late Arnold P. Gold, MD, a faculty member at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. The ceremony is widely considered a rite of passage for students of healthcare professions, symbolizing the official transition from student to medical professional-in-training.
Though each program’s ceremony carries its own traditions, they share a unifying spirit: the white coat as a symbol of responsibility, integrity and trust. Together, these healthcare professions students begin their journeys with a promise to improve health, advance discovery and serve communities across San Antonio, South Texas and beyond.
Long School of Medicine
On July 19, the Long School of Medicine celebrated 234 incoming medical students, including 206 from Texas and 28 from out of state, as they walked across the stage to receive their white coats and recite the Hippocratic Oath. This same pledge has been made by School of Medicine students since the school’s first white coat ceremony held in 1997, which has only grown as a proud tradition of the school over the decades.
“This is the first time I’ve attended a ceremony like this, and to see the Hippocratic Oath recited by all of you is very powerful,” said Taylor Eighmy, PhD, president of UT San Antonio, during the milestone event. Eighmy’s presence at the event was especially meaningful, as it marked his first time welcoming medical students to the university ahead of the integration of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and The University of Texas at San Antonio. The merger of the two institutions became official Sept.1.
“This ceremony isn’t just about receiving a garment. It’s a profound symbol of the path you have chosen, the commitment to service you have made and the trust that will be placed upon you. As the newest members of our medical community, you have now joined our mission of advancing the health of all of San Antonio and the South Texas region. You are stepping into a legacy of healing, discovery and service that will profoundly impact the trajectories of countless lives. Embrace this and go out and make the world a better place and make lives better,” Eighmy said.
Long School of Medicine Dean Robert Hromas, MD, FACP, reminded students that being a physician is as much about humanity as it is about medicine.
“Being a physician is not just learning all the diseases and all the treatments. A computer can do that. Rather, it is learning that healing another person starts inside your own heart,” he said. “Start learning medicine from the inside out. First learn the heart of healing before learning the facts of healing and you will do wonderfully as a physician.”
School of Dentistry
The School of Dentistry officially welcomed its newest students on July 19, celebrating the incoming Doctor of Dental Surgery class of 2029, the International Dentist Education Program class of 2027 and the Dental Hygiene Program class of 2027. In total, 143 students received their white coats and recited the Hippocratic Oath in front of family, friends and faculty, formally joining the dentistry profession.
“Welcoming this class of dental students is a defining moment for our university and our community,” said Kenneth M. Hargreaves, DDS, PhD, professor and dean of the School of Dentistry. “These students will not only gain the skills to provide exceptional care. They will also help shape the future of dentistry through discovery, service and leadership. Their journey begins here, but the impact of their work will extend far beyond the clinic, transforming lives through better oral health, brighter smiles and stronger communities.”
School of Nursing
The School of Nursing held its white coat ceremony on Aug. 23, welcoming 150 students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Traditional) program. The school held its first white coat ceremony in 2019 as a way to celebrate the School of Nursing’s 50th anniversary year and to kick off a new tradition. During the ceremony, students recited an oath unique to the School of Nursing in which they committed to the professional, ethical and compassionate practice of nursing throughout their career.
“Today, students are stepping into a new chapter, not only in their personal journeys but in the history of our institution. Students carry with them the promise of innovation, collaboration and community-focused care,” said Sonya R. Hardin, PhD, RN, APRN, FAAN, professor and dean of the School of Nursing. “This ceremony marks more than the start of their nursing careers; it symbolizes a deeper commitment to the health and well-being of San Antonio and beyond.”
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
In the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the white coat ceremony, held Sept. 26, represents a different milestone: the advancement of PhD students to candidacy. This year, 59 students advanced. The school held its first white coat ceremony in 2017, a tradition that celebrates its doctoral candidates’ achievements and charges them to stay true to the ideals that shape their scientific work. During the ceremony, PhD candidates receive their white coats and recite the graduate student oath and scientists’ pledge to always maintain integrity and commitment to the scientific community.
“Becoming a PhD candidate signifies that a student has completed the majority of their coursework, has demonstrated foundational knowledge in their research area and is now ready to focus primarily on their research projects,” said Tim Raabe, PhD, associate dean of the graduate school.
School of Health Professions
On Sept. 19, the School of Health Professions’ Medical Laboratory Sciences program held its white coat ceremony, celebrating master’s and bachelor’s students in the 46-member Class of 2026 as they entered the clinical phase of training. The ceremony, first held in 2022, honors this pivotal transition, during which students take an oath to uphold the highest standards of ethical patient care.
“The white coat serves as a reminder to our medical laboratory sciences students of the standard of excellence they must uphold in the clinical setting,” said David Shelledy, PhD, RRT, RPFT, FAARC, FASAHP, dean of the School of Health Professions. “This responsibility must always stay top of mind, because their work as medical laboratory scientists is essential to the diagnosis and treatment of disease — and to the health and wellbeing of our community.”
Other School of Health Professions programs — including Respiratory Care, Physician Assistant Studies, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy — will celebrate their ceremonies later in the academic year.