College of Medicine – Phoenix welcomes class of 2027

July 20, 2023
A white woman in a doctor's coat helps a young Asian woman with a big smile put on a white doctor's coat.

(From left) Kathleen Brite Hillis, MD, associate dean of clinical and competency-based education, helps Tiffany Juan put her coat on during the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix’s white coat ceremony on July 14.

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix welcomed the 120 members of the class of 2027 in a white coat ceremony Friday, July 14. Donning their white coats for the first time was a symbol of each student’s commitment and lifelong dedication to advocacy, professionalism and patient-centered care.

As the students’ friends and families gathered in the West Ballroom of the Phoenix Convention Center to celebrate this important milestone, Dean Guy Reed, MD, MS, noted the significance of the moment and what lies ahead.

“I know that for many of you, putting on this white coat is the realization of a promise that you made when you first witnessed suffering, illness or death in someone very close to you,” Dr. Reed said. “A promise you made, that even if you could not help or save them, you would dedicate your life to learning how to help and save others.”

A version of this story was originally published on the UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix website.

A group of 120 new medical students pose for a photo in large group sitting and standing.
A young man with short dark hair and light brown skin wearing a button-up shirt, tie and suspenders reaches for a white coat.
A group of four young women smile as they hold up their medical school white coats as one of them takes a selfie of the group.
A group of about 16 medical students holding white coats over their arms pose for a photo with a male faculty member. All are smiling.
Five medical school faculty members, women and men, mostly wearing white coats stand together smiling.
Several medical school students stand in a line smiling with white coats over their arms.
Many medical school students with white coats over their arms stand in front of chairs preparing to go onto stage.
A young man stands on a stage smiling with his arms outstreatched as a faculty member helps put a white coat on him.
A young woman with her hair covered by a dark scarf smiles as she has her white coat placed on her.
A white female doctor helps a young male medical student with brown skin and a beard put on his white coat.
A white female doctor helps a young male medical student with light skin and a mustache put on his white coat.
A white female doctor helps a young female medical student wearing a traditional Native American necklace and belt put on her white coat.
A white female doctor helps a young female medical student with dark skin and a big smile put on her white coat.
A large group of medical students wearing white coats and holding papers recites their oath.
A young woman in a white coat holding flowers and smiling stands with four female members of her family.
A tall white man in a suit laughs as he stands next to a shorter young woman in a white medical coat who is also laughing.
A young female medical student with dark skin smiles holding flowers as she stands withher family.
A young white woman in a medical coat smiles as she holds a little boy. Both are smiling.