Penn Dental Medicine Welcomes Class of 2028 with White Coat Ceremony

Philadelphia — Penn Dental Medicine welcomed the Class of 2028 DMD students to the study of dental medicine at its annual White Coat Ceremony, held August 13 at Penn’s Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. This annual tradition holds symbolic significance for members of the incoming class as they are presented with a white coat and declare their commitment to assume the responsibilities of the dental profession.

“The white coat is a reminder, as students begin their studies, of the responsibility and trust they will have with their patients,” says Penn Dental Medicine’s Morton Amsterdam Dean, Dr. Mark Wolff. “It’s always an exciting time to welcome a new class of students and celebrate this next step of their education as they join the Penn Dental Medicine community.”

This year’s 168-member class is made up of 124 women and 43 men, who represent 27 states, U.S territories, and Canadian provinces, and speak 29 different languages. The highly accomplished students, selected from 2,852 applicants, had an average overall GPA of 3.84 in their undergraduate studies.

Dr. Uri Hangorsky, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, served as Master of Ceremonies with the program including a message from Dean Wolff and a keynote address by Myron Allukian, Jr., DDS, MPH. A Penn Dental Medicine alumnus who stressed the vital role of dental care service in the community, Dr. Allukian is an internationally recognized public health expert and the former Dental Director for the City of Boston. He also served as Chairman of the U.S. Surgeon General’s Work Group on Fluoridation and Dental Health for the 1990 Prevention Objectives for the Nation, and the Dental Advisory Committees for Healthy People 2000, 2010, and 2020, the National Health Objectives.

Students were cloaked in their white coats by members of the faculty and staff, including Dr. Kara Fraiman, Assistant Director of Admissions; Dr. Jessica Hilburg, Clinical Associate, Division of Restorative Dentistry; Dr. Myra Laird, Assistant Professor, Department of Basic & Translational Sciences; Dr. Josephine Lomangino-Cheung, Associate Professor of Clinical Restorative Dentistry, Director of Operative Dentistry, Division of Restorative Dentistry; and Dr. Abrar Sabeh, Instructor, Department of Basic & Translational Sciences.  Following the introduction and cloaking of each student, the ceremony concluded with the reciting of the Penn Dental Medicine Professional Pledge, led by Dr. Vincent Mayher, Assistant Professor of Clinical Restorative Dentistry, Primary Care Unit Director, Division of Restorative Dentistry. A reception at the School with family and friends in attendance followed the program.

The white coat ceremony is part of student orientation that focuses on building strong connections between the incoming students and a network supporting future resilience.

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