Peoria’s 69 Newest Medical Students Celebrate “White Coat Ceremony”
Introduction
The University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria welcomed 69 new, first year medical students during its White Coat ceremony on Friday, August 15, 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 40 members of the class consider Illinois their home state, the class as a whole represents 16 different states, 37 different undergraduate institutions, and 25 different majors. Collectively, they have completed more than 51,000 hours of research, 13,000 hours of medical volunteering, and 26,000 hours of community service.
UICOMP Regional Dean Meenakshy Aiyer said to the incoming UICOMP Class of 2029, “From this moment forward, you are part of a deeply collaborative and supportive community. Our faculty are not just teachers. They are mentors, role models, and lifelong guides. They have committed themselves not only to the science of medicine, but to the art of teaching and the joy of watching students like you grow into your fullest potential. This institution, and in particular the Peoria regional campus, is a place where curiosity is nurtured, questions are welcomed, and learning happens in partnership. You will learn from your professors, from your patients, and, just as importantly, from one another.”
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 next week.