EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine welcomed 200 new student physicians during its annual White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, July 19.
The ceremony was held at Centennial High School in Las Cruces and represented “their first symbolic step into the medical profession,” Burrell said in a news release.
Photos courtesy of Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
“This ceremony is a powerful reminder of what it means to pursue a life in medicine,” said John Hummer, president and co-founder of Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. “We are proud to support these future physicians as they begin the next phase of their journey, and we are confident they will make a lasting impact in New Mexico and beyond.”
The White Coat Ceremony is a time-honored tradition across medical schools that signifies a student’s commitment to the practice of medicine and the communities they will one day serve, Burrell said.
At Burrell College, it also reinforces the college’s mission to increase access to care in medically underserved areas — especially in the rural and border communities of the Southwest, it said.
“Each white coat placed on our students’ shoulders represents the responsibility they now carry,” Dr. Bill Pieratt, dean of Burrell College, said. “This tradition reminds us all of the importance of compassion, humility, and service in the path toward becoming a physician.”
During the ceremony, each student received a white coat embroidered with their name and the Burrell College insignia. The event concluded with the recitation of the Osteopathic Oath, affirming the core values of empathy, respect, and holistic care.
This year’s ceremony will also included a special benefactors recognition — the GECU Foundation THRIVE Scholarship Award, totaling $242,000 to be distributed over the next three academic years.
“We believe that when people have access to the essential health care they need, they’re able to live longer and have more fulfilling lives,” said Crystal Long, GECU Foundation chairman. “It’s a privilege to collaborate with the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine and support them in their mission to keep physicians in the Borderland and in Southern New Mexico, promoting the overall health of those who live and work here.”
To learn more about Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, click here.
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