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Trust, responsibility, and pride – these are the symbols of the white coat, and putting it on marks a special milestone in the life of a medical student. After countless nights of studying and two years of being part of a close-knit community, students eagerly await the moment when they can finally wear their coats at this ceremony. This year, the 10^th White Coat Ceremony, held in the Dr. Romhányi György Aula of the UP Medical School, was once again filled with emotion and celebration.

Written by Nóra Novreczky

The White Coat Ceremony took place on 19 September at the UP Medical School this academic year. The idea for the ceremony originated in the United States, with the first official ceremony held at the University of Chicago in 1989. The English-German Student Committee (EGSC) introduced the ceremony to the Medical School in Pécs in 2015 and has been organizing it ever since. Following the traditions of previous years, the leaders of the Medical School, as well as the presidents of the English-German Student Committee and the Student Council, welcomed the students, who, after the ceremonial speeches, were able to slip into the long-awaited white coats, the symbol of their future profession.

Dr. László Czopf, Vice-Dean for Education, spoke about how the white coat symbolizes the trust society places in doctors. He asked students to use their credibility and humane attitude to help those who turn to them. He also emphasized the importance of scientific integrity, as it is one of the most important components of credibility. Finally, he asked the third-year students to take good care of their coats and this trust, and to continue their studies with great diligence.

In her speech in English, Dr. Dóra Reglődi, Vice-Dean for Science, expressed how much she loves this ceremony because everyone is happy at this time. “Everyone is cheerful, with big smiles on their faces. It is a truly beautiful sight when you come out to receive your white coats. You can be proud of yourselves. You have made it through these two difficult years. No one is saying that the next subjects will be easier, but you have learned how to study by now. […] I am very proud that we can play a part in you sitting here today. Right now, dark colours dominate—elegant suits and beautiful dresses. But as you come forward one by one and receive your white coats, the dark colours will disappear. In the end, there will be white coats everywhere.”

Dr. Péter Than, Head of the German Programme, greeted the students in German, also emphasizing what a wonderful, meaningful, and joyful event the White Coat Ceremony is. “I advise you to orient yourselves during these years, look around the different clinics, and find what you would like to do later in life. Wear your white coats with pride because you have earned them. However, wear it with humility, humility towards your colleagues, patients, and especially the diseases you treat,” concluded Dr. Péter Than.

On behalf of the English-German Student Committee (EGSC), Emily-Sophie Marth welcomed the students with a speech in German, and Carla Schreiber welcomed them with a speech in English. The Student Union was represented by Balázs Takáts. In their speeches, they all mentioned what a great achievement it is to have reached this point in their medical studies. Furthermore, those students who can now put on the white coat can be proud of themselves, while also showing the first- and second-year students that they can also succeed in the future.

The White Coat Ceremony was also attended by a delegation from the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians of Saxony (Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Sachsen, KVS), led by Deputy Director Sylvia Krug, as well as two provincial administrative leaders, Rheiner Gut and Ralph Leßmeister, both representing the Doctors for Western Palatinate programme.

“A new period begins now: with new experiences, new challenges, but also wonderful moments”

“Looking back on the past two years, I am filled with gratitude and pride that I can now participate in the White Coat Ceremony. When I graduated from high school, I was unsure about where to start. However, I believe that I could not have made a better decision than to choose dentistry. What inspires me about dentistry is that I can combine different skills, whether scientific or aesthetic, and that I can work directly with people—all factors that inspire and motivate me in my studies,” says Clara Schedewig, a third-year dentistry student studying in the University of Pécs Medical School’s German Programme.

“No one is alone in Pécs—we are all in the same boat, while also helping each other,” she said. She added that she feels great at the School, and being part of a wonderful community gives her a lot of strength when they can celebrate each other’s successes together, but it is also important that they can count on each other in difficult times, catching and supporting each other like a safety net.

“The white coat we can put on after our successful preclinical studies symbolizes many things. On the one hand, it symbolizes the countless hours we spent studying at our desks and the perseverance we showed when struggling with certain parts of the curriculum—and we can be truly proud of that. On the other hand, it also reflects the responsibility and expectations that now fall on us as we enter the clinical phase of our studies. A new period begins now: with new experiences, challenges, but also wonderful moments – with friends, teachers, or even patients – who give us strength and continue to inspire us on the path we have chosen,” she emphasized.

“It is an honour that the community of teachers is with us at such a special ceremony, and that those who have taught or will teach us, or perhaps even tested our knowledge during exams, are putting the symbol of healing on us. This ceremony is also a recognition that we can be one of them, that we have set out on the path to becoming part of a larger community: the medical community,” said Márk Fekete, a third-year Hungarian general medicine student. For him, putting on the white coat feels like he is already a doctor a little bit, while this garment symbolizes the hard work, the many hours of studying, and the humility that were necessary to get to this point. 

“The white coat is also a symbol of healing because from now on, we can meet patients and gain insight into the real world of healing. We know how hard each of us has fought to be here together at this beautiful ceremony. We have also gone through difficult times together and helped each other a lot. We have a great community and stick together through thick and thin. This ceremony will also be a shared memory we will remember for the rest of our lives,” he said. The road to get here was not smooth; anatomy and biochemistry proved to be the two most difficult subjects for Márk over the past two years, and these two exams were demanding. Still, he is excited when the conversation turns to the days ahead.

“This change means that we will meet patients, something I and we have been waiting for a long time. Wearing the coat fills me with pride, as it is also a symbol that we have reached a serious milestone. At the same time, of course, we do not forget the humility without which we cannot continue our studies,” he said.

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Dávid Verébi/UPMS