Penn Dental Medicine’s White Coat Ceremony Welcomes Class of 2021

 

Members of the Class of 2021 before the white coat ceremony.

Philadelphia — Penn Dental Medicine welcomed the Class of 2021 DMD students to the study of dental medicine at its annual White Coat Ceremony, held August 14 at Penn’s Irvine Auditorium. This annual tradition holds symbolic significance for the incoming class as they declare their commitment to assume the responsibilities and obligations of the dental profession.

The incoming 134-member class is made up of 81 women and 53 men, representing 25 states and six foreign countries (Australia, Barbados, Canada, France, People’s Republic of China, and South Korea). Nine members of the class are legacy students with relatives who are Penn Dental Medicine graduates or current students. The highly accomplished students, selected from over 2200 applicants, had an average overall GPA of 3.7 in their undergraduate studies.

“The white coat symbolizes a covenant between the caregiver and those they treat,” said Dr. Denis Kinane, the Morton Amsterdam Dean of Penn Dental Medicine, as part of the welcoming remarks. “With their white coats, the students are pledging to carry on the finest traditions of the University and the dental medicine profession.”

Along with the welcoming remarks by Dean Kinane, the program included a keynote address by Penn’s new Provost, Wendell Pritchett, and remarks from Dr. Uri Hangorsky, Associate Dean for Student Life and Admissions.

Following the presentation and introduction of each student in their white coats, the ceremony concluded with the reciting of the Penn Dental Medicine Professional Pledge, followed by a reception for all attendees. The event is part of a two-week orientation for the class.

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Watch the ceremony video on YouTube »