During their remarks, distinguished members of the School’s faculty wove together the layered fabric from which these coats were made and from which they would continue to be formed. They spoke of the commitment and symbolism of the white coat and reiterated recurring themes of community, friendship, service, nostalgia, mentorship, humor, and above all, the patient.

David C. Thomas, MD, MS, MHPE, Dean for Medical Education and Chair, Leni and Peter May Department of Medical Education, Icahn School of Medicine, opened the ceremony by welcoming students, parents, family members, faculty, and board members. He said “the White Coat is a cloak of trust. It represents the obligation to earn the trust of patients who rely upon us at the most vulnerable moments of their lives.”

Valerie Parkas, MD, Professor, Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Medical Education and Senior Associate Dean of Admissions and Recruitment, Icahn School of Medicine, reminded students that medicine is a team sport. “Value your classmates. Support each other,” she said. “Ask for help. Appreciate your peers, your mentors, the other professionals in the clinical arena. Listen to the patients. They are the most important people on the team.”

Brendan G. Carr, MD, MA, MS, Chief Executive Officer, Mount Sinai Health System, welcomed the incoming class to “the coolest club on Earth.” He shared his own memories of sitting in the audience at his white coat ceremony and his non-linear path to the position he holds at one of the largest health systems in the country. He compared the coat to a coat of armor and “providing emotional shelter and distance when you need it.” He continued by telling the students that they earned the coat they will wear and the seat they’re sitting in, and he spoke about the state of the world that these soon-to-be physicians will be entering. “You were born into a world that was already waiting for you to grow up and to save it,” he said.

Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Mount Sinai Health System, shared the importance of humanity in medicine. “While AI will be part of your education, it will not—it can never—replace you,” he said. “No matter how powerful computers become, medicine will require uniquely human capabilities. Not only synthesis, analysis, and evaluation, but also empathy, social understanding, and emotional intelligence. Those are integral to being a doctor. As much knowledge as you will absorb, it is your humanity that ultimately will determine how great a physician you become.”

In the Hans Popper, MD, PhD Keynote Address, Dave Berman, MD, 2013 graduate of the Icahn School of Medicine, gave a speech focused on wisdom and inspiration, using humor to emphasize the humanity required to be a good doctor. Knowing the names of people on the team, being present, and talking about the hard things were among the 13 important rules Dr. Berman identified and encouraged the class to follow. The White Coat keynote address is endowed in the name of Hans Popper, MD, PhD, a world-renowned physician and academic leader who served as the School’s founding dean.

After receiving their white coats, students recited their oath adapted from the World Medical Association Declaration of Geneva Physician’s Pledge. The students’ oath was led by Karen M. Lee, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, and a long-standing member of the Admissions Committee.

The faculty also recited an oath upholding their responsibilities to their students. The Faculty Oath was led by Nisha Chadha, MD,  Associate Professor, Leni and Peter May Department of Medical Education, and Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. Chadha directs the students’ Clinical Apprenticeship Experience, working with faculty on mentorship and career exploration opportunities.

The Class of 2030, composed of 130 students—120 MD and 10 MD-PhD—was selected from a pool of just over 8,300 applicants, from which the Admissions team interviewed more than 750. The new students represent a breadth of backgrounds and experiences. The students are outstanding alumni of 48 undergraduate institutions, with majors in humanities, social sciences, and natural and applied sciences.