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Penn Dental Medicine Welcomes Class of 2013 with White Coat Ceremony

August 20, 2009

The School of Dental Medicine welcomed a new freshman class with its annual White Coat Ceremony, held Monday, August 17, at the Zellerbach Theatre in the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Center. Nearly 500 family, friends, alumni, faculty, and staff gathered to celebrate with the Class of 2013 as they begin their study of dental medicine; University of Pennsylvania Provost Vincent Price was among the evening's speakers.

Sponsored the Penn Dental Medicine Alumni Society, this annual tradition – now in its sixth year – holds symbolic significance for the incoming class as they declare their commitment to assume the responsibilities and obligations of the dental profession. This year's 116-member class of new students includes 62 women and 54 men and represents 20 different states and four foreign countries. Four members of the freshman class are legacy students with relatives who are also Penn Dental Medicine graduates: Richard Clark, the cousin of Michelle Backhaus (D'03); Alexandra Hillyard, daughter of Gregory Hillyard (D'85); Joshua Levy, son of Joseph (D'79) and Lori Levy and nephew of Marc Weinberger (D'93); and Lea Planzos, daughter of Thomas Planzos (D'86).

Along with Provost Price, remarks were presented by Morton Amsterdam Dean Denis F. Kinane, who welcomed his first incoming class as Dean (Dr. Kinane assumed the post of Dean July 1). Dr. Ronald Gutman (D'74), President of the Penn Dental Medicine Alumni Society, opened the program with welcoming remarks and Dr. D. Walter Cohen (C'47, D'50), Dean Emeritus, spoke on the history of Penn Dental Medicine.

The presentation of the white coats was conducted by members of the Board of Overseers and the Penn Dental Medicine Alumni Society Executive Committee. The ceremony concluded with the reciting of the Penn Dental Medicine Professional Pledge and was followed by a reception for all attendees. The White Coat Ceremony was among the many activities held during the four-day freshman orientation, August 17 through 20.

View photos from the event

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