FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015
Contact: Leah C. Payne, Director of Public Affairs, Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy, 304-691-1713

School of Medicine marks annual White Coat Ceremony Friday
Class of 2019 begins medical school journey

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine officially welcomes 76 new students Friday, Aug. 7, in the school’s annual White Coat Ceremony.  

The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. at the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center on the Huntington campus. 

The White Coat Ceremony was first introduced at Marshall in 1996.  It is considered a rite of passage for first-year students and is designed to instill the values of professionalism, humanism and compassionate care.

Among this year’s class of students is a 54-year-old who recently received her undergraduate degree, a former missionary worker who survived a serious earthquake in Chile, a veteran who boxed during his collegiate career at West Point and four students who all play the violin.   

Some interesting statistics about the Class of 2019 include the following: 

•        62 percent of the class are West Virginia residents
•        83 percent were science majors
•        Average age is 24 years
•        27 percent are first-generation college graduates

WHO:   Class of 2019

WHAT:  White Coat Ceremony, where incoming students receive their white coats, stethoscopes and medical instruments.    Dr. Joseph B. Touma, a retired ear, nose and throat specialist and former chair of the Marshall University Board of Governors, and his wife, Dr. Omayma T. Touma, have generously donated funds to provide each student with a stethoscope and will be presenting the gifts.  School of Medicine alumni and friends are giving students their first white coats and medical instruments.

WHEN:  7 p.m.Friday, Aug. 7.

WHERE:  Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center    

The event is invitation only, but is being streamed live at www.marshall.edu/it/livestream.

Date Posted: Thursday, August 6, 2015