Students start journey with white coat ceremony

GREENVILLE, N.C.   (Aug. 13, 2004)   —   The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University officially welcomed a new class of 72 medical students with its annual white coat ceremony today. 

First-year medical student Lin Riccio, left, adjusts her coat after receiving it from Dr. Diana Antonacci, assistant dean of student affairs, at the Aug. 13 white coat ceremony at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. Photo by Cliff Ho

Dr. M. J. Barchman, a nephrologist and associate professor of internal medicine, told the students a little about what they could expect in medical school and also encouraged them to enjoy the journey.

“Have fun, … be trustworthy physicians and study hard,” she said.

The 35 men and 37 women in the class range in age from 20 to 41 with an average age of 24. As usual, they are all North Carolina residents, with 30 counties of residence listed. They have undergraduate degrees from 22 different colleges and universities; 19 graduated from ECU, 11 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and nine from N.C. State University. Underrepresented minority students make up 24 percent of the class.

After Dr. Diana Antonacci, assistant dean for student affairs, struggled to help some of the taller students don their coats, Dr. Cynda Johnson, dean of the Brody School of Medicine, quipped, “I did learn one thing (today): We either need shorter students or taller deans.”

More seriously, Johnson reminded students of the importance of the patients they will see during their education and practice.

“Your goal should be caring as well as curing,” she said.