White Coat Ceremony

Dr. Cathy Lazarus
Associate Dean for Students

The School of Medicine’s annual White Coat Ceremony was held the morning of Saturday, September 21 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome’s Bienville Club Lounge. This year, 205 members of the Class of 2023 received white coats, a monumental moment that symbolizes the beginning of the transition into the profession of medicine. Following an address by a faculty member chosen by the LSU NO SOM Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society (GHHS), students are “coated” within their houses by group faculty mentors. This year’s speaker was Dr. Taniya DeSilva from the Department of Medicine.

Conferring faculty:

Napoleon House – Dr. Margaret Bishop-Baier, Dr. Cathi Fontenot

Decatur House – Dr. Richard DiCarlo

Esplanade House – Dr. Deidre Devier, Dr. Victoria Burke

Rampart House – Dr. Shubho Sarkar, Dr. Angela McLean

Tchoupitoulas House – Dr. Cacky Hebert, Dr. Lee Engel

Audubon House – Dr. Jason Middleton, Dr. Maureen Basha

Magazine House – Dr. Sonia Gasparini, Dr. Joy Sturtevant

Carrollton House – Dr. Robin English, Dr. Taniya DeSilva

Following the coating, the class recited its Oath of Ideals. Fourth year medical student and current president of the GHHS, Colleen Drapcho, led the students in reciting the Oath.

The White Coat Ceremony is a tradition begun here in 1997.

The Class of 2023 Oath of Ideals:

As we accept these white coats, we symbolically join the ranks of physicians and healers in the noble career of medicine. Although our journey is not yet complete, this is a milestone to cherish and celebrate. As we join our predecessors, we agree to uphold the honor and integrity of the medical profession, which we formally acknowledge by reciting this oath.

I, (state your name) upon receiving this white coat, do hereby pledge the following oath:

I pledge to respect and honor human life and to treat every patient equally regardless of race, age, gender or socioeconomic status.

I pledge to be an advocate for my patients, and I promise to do my part to ensure that all members of my community have equal access to sustainable, quality health care.

I pledge to always remember that each patient is someone’s parent, child, sibling, friend, and loved one, and that my actions not only affect the patient but their families as well.

I pledge to utilize my skills and knowledge to prevent disease and to treat each patient as effectively and ethically as possible.

I pledge to remember that the pursuit of knowledge in this profession is never complete, as we continually strive for excellence.

I pledge to lead with honor and integrity and practice medicine with professionalism and compassion.

I pledge to remain self-aware and humble enough to realize my own limitations.

I pledge to never forget that the practice of medicine is an earned privilege and that the well-being of the patient should always come first.

On this Oath we swear, the Class of 2023, LSUHSC School of Medicine.

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