COMUI WELCOMES MBBS/BDS 2K23 SET INTO CLINICAL SCHOOL.

The "white coat ceremony" is a rite of passage as well as a meaningful emblem of the experiences and obligations in your journey as a healthcare professional. This ceremony not only signifies the beginning of your clinical medical education but also emphasizes the importance of professionalism, empathy, and ethical behavior in the field of medicine.

According to Wikipedia, “a white coat ceremony is a relatively new ritual that marks one's entrance into medical school and, more recently, a number of health-related schools and professions.” It began in 1989 at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine and consists of a formal "robing" or "cloaking" in white lab coats ".

It was implemented at the University of Ibadan in 2017 and this white coat ceremony of the 2K23 MBBS/BDS set will be the fifth. It took place on May 22, 2023 at Paul Hendrickse Hall, University College Hospital Ibadan. The ceremony began at 10 a.m. with the students already sitting in the hall, their beautiful faces beaming with joy. Finally, the eagerly anticipated day had come.

The masters of ceremonies of the event were the Subdean, Basic Medical Sciences, Dr. Michael; Subdean, Medicine and Surgery, Dr. Ajani; Subdean, Dentistry, and Dr. Gbadebo. They welcomed everyone to the ceremony and gave a brief overview of what to expect throughout the day. The ceremony kicked off with the national anthem, followed by the University of Ibadan's anthem, and lastly, the College of Medicine's anthem.

The event was attended by dignitaries including the Provost, College of Medicine, Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun; Deputy Provost, Prof. Fatai Adeniyi; Director, College of Medicine Education Unit, Prof. A. A. Odukogbe; Dean, Faculty of Public Health, Prof. R. E. Godson, among others. They took turns to address the newly-crossed clinical students, celebrating their hard work and achievements and offering them pieces of advice. In her speech, the Provost, Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun, educated the students on the concept, history, and significance of the White Coat Ceremony.

The event also featured a speech from the UIMSA President, Miss Omotola Odeleke where she encouraged them to uphold the values of professionalism, compassion, and empathy in their medical practice. After all the addresses were taken, the robing with white coats and the medical and dental pledge-taking took place, symbolizing the students' commitment to the ethical principles of their profession.

The ceremony ended with a reception where students and faculty members mingled and celebrated this significant milestone in the students' medical education journey.

After the ceremony, Dentatics Press spoke with some members of the class about their thoughts concerning the ceremony and Mr Salimon Rasaq stated that "it was an exciting one, like the feeling of being dressed by a doctor was just like you are already into the profession".

Mr Adebayo Akindele pointed out that "The ceremony started on time and made sense. Everything was particularly on point. I enjoyed the provost’s speech, especially the part where she stated that 'we'd be soberer during our induction'. This was the height of the whole speech for me." 

Mr Oladapo Aderemi, commented that "the ceremony was incredible and a reminder to us that we've come a long way. I feel that it's this kind of attention to detail that makes COMUI stand out among her peers".

Miss Victoria Dada stated that "it was a significant event that I had looked forward to. I really enjoyed the speech given by the provost. I loved that we took pictures and videos to preserve the memory of the white coat ceremony. As we begin medical school proper, we can look back to see the beautiful smiles we had on our faces." 

Tarinabo Sounyo