UICOMP Welcomes 65 Members of the Class of 2030 to Receive White Coats As Medical School Journey Begins
Introduction
The University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria welcomed 65 new, first-year medical students during its White Coat ceremony on Friday, August 14, at Jump Simulation and Education Center in Peoria.
The White Coat ceremony is a medical school tradition to welcome students to the profession as they begin their study of medicine in the four-year curriculum leading to a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. While 26 members of the Class of 2030 consider Illinois their home state, the class as a whole represents 20 different states, 47 different undergraduate institutions. On average, they have completed 1,088 hours of research, 2,300 hours of work and shadowing hours in clinical settings, and 975 hours of community service.
UICOMP Regional Dean Meenakshy Aiyer said to the incoming class, “The white coat you receive today symbolizes far more than your status as a medical student. It represents trust, responsibility, service, and the privilege of caring for others. One day, patients will place their health, their fears, and their hopes in your hands. That trust is something to be earned every day.”
At the Peoria regional campus, the UICOMP Alumni Council sponsors the event and provides the white coats for the students. The White Coat ceremony comes at the end of the class’s orientation week before officially starting their studies.