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White Coat Ceremony

QUESTIONS?
Please contact the Office of Student Affairs at 304.691.8725 for additional information.

The traditional White Coat Ceremony for medical students was established by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation in 1993 and has been held at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine since 1996. The White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage for medical students that marks their entry into the medical profession. It usually takes place at the beginning of medical school and symbolizes the student's commitment to professionalism, excellence and empathy. 


Friday, July 31, 2026 | 5 p.m.
Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center
925 Fourth Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia


Parking

Street parking is available along Fourth Avenue and surrounding side streets. Garage parking is also available on Third Avenue between 9th and 10th Street and between 7th and 8th Street. Free parking is only available on the street after 6 p.m. 

Arrival Times

The mandatory walk-through for all incoming students is 9 a.m. on July 31. Students should enter through the front doors of the Keith-Albee; doors open at 8:30 a.m. for rehearsal. The walk-through is for medical students only; cloakers should not attend.

The ceremony begins promptly at 5 p.m. All students will meet on the mezzanine level of the Keith-Albee. Students should arrive no later than 4 p.m. to line up for the procession into the theater prior to the start of the ceremony. 

Guests

Guests should enter through the main doors of the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center. Doors will open for the ceremony at 4 p.m.

Cloakers

Cloakers should enter through the main doors of the Keith-Albee. A current medical student will be inside the entrance to direct you. Doors will open at 4 p.m. Cloakers should arrive no later than 4 p.m. Professional attire is required.

Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities

Handicap or mobility-challenged individuals will have ADA seating available. The individual may be accompanied by no more than one guest.  

If you or a guest need ADA accommodations, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at MUSOMStudentAffairs@marshall.edu or 304.691.8725 prior to the ceremony so that we may make proper arrangements for you/your guest. 

Platform Party

Platform Party members should arrive by 4:30 p.m. and enter the Keith-Albee through the main entrance. Those with MD or DO credentials are required to wear white coats; all others should wear professional business attire. Current students will be stationed at the entrance to guide members of the platform party to the designated area on the mezzanine level.

For more information, please contact MUSOMStudentAffairs@marshall.edu or 304.691.8725 prior to the ceremony.

Event Attire

All candidates participating in the ceremony are required to wear professional business attire. Medical students should not wear a jacket. 

Ceremony Information

Following their coating, students will process back to their seats for completion of the ceremony. Dismissal will be directed from the podium. Upon dismissal, the class will gather for a group photo in front of the Keith-Albee under the marquee. 

Photography & Videography

University photographers will photograph incoming students throughout the ceremony, including the coating of each participant. Photos of the ceremony will be available for free download no more than one week following the ceremony.

Family and friends will not be permitted on the floor by the stage or the stage for photo opportunities. We encourage families to take their own videos and photographs from their seats throughout the ceremony. 

Additional locations throughout Huntington that provide a lovely background for white coat photos include: Ritter Park, Harris Riverfront Park, the front lawn of Old Main (Hal Greer Blvd.), Pullman Square, buffalo statues (Third Avenue between the Marshall Sports Medicine Institute and University’s Hall of Fame). 

Livestreaming

For family and friends unable to attend, the ceremony will be streamed live at marshall.edu/livestream and facebook.com/MUSOMWV. These videos will also remain archived for viewing at a later date. 

Photo & Video Archives
  • 2025: Class of 2029 - Photo Gallery | Livestream
  • 2024: Class of 2028 - Photo Gallery | Livestream
  • 2023: Class of 2027 - Photo Gallery | Livestream
  • 2022: Class of 2026 - Photo Gallery | Livestream 

Keeping Healthcare Human pins are a gift from The Arnold P. Gold Foundation, initiators of the first White Coat Ceremony in 1993.