Annual White Coat Ceremony helps launch dental school’s newest class of students9 min read
Ann Arbor, Mich., July 29, 2024 – The next wave of dental students starting their education at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry received a mix of inspiration and advice during the school’s annual White Coat Ceremony on Friday.
The 109 members of the DDS Class of 2028 have settled into the first of their four years after arriving five weeks ago. They were joined at the ceremony by 20 internationally trained dentists who started their shorter, 2.5-year course of study earlier in the year, with their graduation set for 2026.
The White Coat Ceremony, held at Hill Auditorium, signifies the students’ commitment to pursue and uphold the highest standards of care and ethics of the profession, emphasized in the Oath of Aspiring Dentists that they recite in unison as part of the program. Each student crosses the stage and is helped into a white clinic coat that carries their name and the Block M that represents the U-M dental school’s 149-year history of leading dental education. Several hundred family members and friends from around the country and several international locations attended the event.
Keynote speaker Dr. Todd Christy, President of the Michigan Dental Association, related a maxim he heard earlier this year at a dental conference: “A different world cannot be built by indifferent people.”
“You are all here at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry because you are not indifferent,” he told the students. “You are the future of dentistry and you will make your mark on the world. The future of dentistry is so bright with you joining us.”
Christy noted the importance of wording in The Oath of Aspiring Dentists that the students recite during the ceremony. “Within the context of it, there are so many great things that I and the other members of the Michigan Dental Association believe in and live every day,” he said. “You, too, will be expected to follow through on them: Honesty, collaborative learning, sound ethical judgment, being mindful, exemplifying the highest standards of care. This oath is the perfect way to begin your path. Follow its message and you will shine bright on the world around you.”
Dean Jacques Nör emphasized that the new students join a long line of students who have been educated at this dental school for nearly a century and a half. From the very beginning in 1875, that tradition was and still is a commitment of faculty and students to excellence and leadership in the profession. “Today we celebrate the outstanding accomplishments that have brought each one of you to our new class of DDS students at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Today we also look forward to the promise of even greater things to come for each one of you during your dental school years and beyond.”
Nör cited the diversity of class members as a strength they should capitalize on. “A remarkable part of your journey is how each of you has come together here to Ann Arbor from across the country and around the world,” he said. “Collectively, this class brings a wonderful and unique diversity of life experiences, knowledge and perspectives. That diversity is an incredible opportunity for each one of you. Learn from your classmates and from their experiences, as you share your insights and your experiences with them. The bonds and friendships you make here will be strong and priceless.”
Elise DeConinck, president of the Class of 2025, which organized the ceremony, provided insight for the new students from her experiences in navigating the school over the last three-plus years. She urged the students to explore many aspects of the profession, which is ultimately about serving others by practicing moral, ethical and informed dentistry, but also researching, educating, advocating and inventing, among other opportunities.
“I can promise you that here at Michigan, you are in the best environment to delve into this profession, and all it entails,” she said. “Each day, I have witnessed the selflessness, the drive, the integrity, and the energy of the people in this community that set it apart. Take advantage of all this community has to offer. There are few times in your life where you are surrounded by so many brilliant, revolutionary game-changers in the field, all under one roof. It is your prerogative to utilize the opportunities at this phenomenal institution to your advantage. I implore you to explore, to push your own boundaries, and to engage with this enriching community in as many ways as you can.”
Representatives of two professional dentistry organizations gave brief presentations about the benefits of their membership – Dr. Lisa Bowerman, President of the Michigan Academy of General Dentistry, and Dr. Steven Sulfaro, Vice Regent of the 9th District of the International College of Dentists.
Faculty member Dr. Sarah Tomaka, in her closing remarks, spoke from her perspective as a 2015 graduate of the school and conveyed an important theme to the new students: You are not alone. Everyone struggles in dental school at some point. Ask for help. Take advantage of faculty, staff and classmates because they constitute a strong support community.
Tomaka recounted how in her first semester as a student she felt alone, intimidated as she watched many of her classmates move through classroom and clinical exercises with ease while she lagged behind, hesitating to ask questions. “I struggled in silence for an entire semester, barely getting by, until a row instructor, Dr. Marcy Goldin, observed that I was indeed struggling and took me under her wing. I soared after this kindness and gentle teaching was given to me, and her only question of me was, ‘Why didn’t you ask sooner – you weren’t alone!’”
Invigorated by that experience, Tomaka’s next three years were much more productive and rewarding. She finished dental school, earned a master’s degree in public health and practiced dentistry for several years. Last year she joined the dental school faculty as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences & Endodontics. She teaches several courses and is Associate Director of the school’s Community-Based Collaborative Care and Education Program, all of which gives her opportunities to support the needs of students.
“This journey is going to be one of the hardest and most rewarding times of your lives,” she told the first-year students. “You have great mentors and friends here in your faculty, administrators, second-, third- and fourth-year students, staff, and fellow D1s. We are here to help you, and we don’t expect you to be a dentist during your first year. Reach out, and reach out often. You are not alone.”
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More photos from the White Coat Ceremony are available on the dental school’s Flickr site.
More information about the Class of 2028 was presented in a previous article on the dental school website during the class’s orientation week.
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The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation’s leading dental schools engaged in oral healthcare education, research, patient care and community service. General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the school to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan. Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia and public agencies. Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide. For more information about the School of Dentistry, visit us on the Web at: www.dent.umich.edu. Email: [email protected] or call (734) 615-1971.