The White Coat Ceremony takes place during the formal convocation welcoming for first-year students at orientation. It includes recitation of a student oath and the presentation of white coats to each student as a symbol of entry into the medical profession.
Throughout a student’s degree program, they might glance down at the white coat and remember what they are training for. The next few years are leading to a lifetime as a medical professional, improving patient’s health and making innovations in the field.
During the ceremony, students recite the Medical School Oath, which expresses the students' commitment to excellence, professionalism, ethical behavior and compassion in ministering to the health and well-being of their patients. The oath reads as follows:
As we enter the medical profession,
We will become members of a larger community working together for the health and well being of our patients and society.
We will strive for clinical excellence, and we will employ our skills with compassion and dignity
We will use our individual backgrounds and our personal ethics to enrich all of your interactions but never as a basis for malice or bias.
We will respect the efforts of our mentors and peers, and we will not hesitate to ask for their guidance when needed.
We will honor the privacy of our patients, and we will maintain confidentiality appropriate to the doctor-patient relationship.
We will remember that to care for our patients, we must attend to our own well being in spirit, mind, and body.
We realize that medical education is a lifelong commitment that only begins today, and we choose to accept the high standards of honesty and integrity to which society will hold us accountable.
Livestream
We encourage those unable to attend the White Coat Ceremony in-person event to watch via livestream.
More about the ceremony
Family, loved ones and friends are invited to the White Coat Ceremony on Friday, August 8, 2025! All are welcome to attend; no RSVP is required and this event is not ticketed.
Schedule Overview
3:00 p.m. – Doors open at Mershon Auditorium
4:00 p.m. – White Coat Ceremony at Mershon Auditorium
5:30 p.m. – Ice Cream Social Reception at the Ohio Union | Performance Hall + Potter Plaza
Parking
Parking is available in the Ohio Union South Garage at 1759 N. High Street, south of Mershon Auditorium. The cost of Convocation special event parking is $10 pre-pay, per car upon entry via card only (tap to pay not accepted) – no cash will be accepted. For guests who need additional time or assistance, please utilize the circle drive in front of Mershon Auditorium (1871 N. High St.) to drop off these guests.
Accessibility
The main floor of Mershon Auditorium has wheelchair accessible seating available in the rear of the auditorium for guests with mobility-based needs and their companions. Please note that Mershon Auditorium does not have an elevator and the only access to the balcony is by stairs. To plan accessible seating in advance or make other accommodation requests, please contact the Mershon Accessibility Manager at accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890 as soon as possible. You can learn more information about accessibility at Mershon Auditorium.
Prohibited Items
No weapons, glass, cans, fireworks, back packs/large bags bigger than 8”x5”x1”, laser pens, confetti canons, noise makers, projectiles, or smoking/vape devices. No balloons. No professional cameras/equipment/external flashes. Outside food and beverages are not permitted – empty water bottles are acceptable. Large signs and flags that obstruct view or with symbolic meanings are not allowed. All poles and sticks are prohibited.
Highlights from the White Coat Ceremony
