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BIDDEFORD, Maine

UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine celebrates 15th Annual White Coat Ceremony

University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine Senior Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean Marc B. Hahn, D.O., welcomed 123 first-year medical students, together with 1,000 family members and friends, at the fifteenth annual White Coat Ceremony formally recognizing the transition students make from lay persons to those assuming the responsibility of physicians. 

The evening ceremony was held at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, Maine on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011.  The White Coat Ceremony kicks off a full weekend of continuing medical education and alumni events at the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

This year's keynote speaker was Dr. Sheila Pinette, D.O., 2000 UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine graduate, and director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the Department of Human Services. She also serves on the Community Physicians of Maine board. 

Pinette advised the medical students the road ahead of them would be "hard, challenging and exhausting," but that "... most of you would have it no other way, and will be forever proud to have accomplished that goal."

She added, "Each day, you will be motivated with a sense of purpose and tremendous pride in what you do, to make a positive difference in others'lives," and reminded students "to remain humble and devoted to the core teachings of your work."

In citing students' need to grow and change with the latest science, methods and technology, UNE President Danielle Ripich, Ph.D., noted, "Your intelligence, compassion and dedication will be the most important factors in the care of future patients."

In keeping with tradition, the medical students were presented their white coats by members of the physician community.  Maine Osteopathic Association President Chris Pezzullo, D.O., and Kenneth Johnson, D.O., UNECOM associate dean for educational programs and vice dean, joined Dean Hahn on the dais and welcomed the first-year students into the house of medicine. Also in attendance were UNECOM Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Peter Dane, D.O., Interim Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs Bruce Bates, D.O., and Nancy Cummings, M.D., president of the Maine Medical Association.

Adam Lauer, D.O., member of the Class of 2000 and president of the UNECOM Alumni Association, led the students in the reading of the osteopathic oath.

Notably, five medical students in the Class of 2015 have parents who also graduated from the UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine:

  • Elita DeFeo (father Guy DeFeo‚Äô, Class of 1987)
  • Kendra Albert (mother Maria Albert, Class of 1986)
  • Adam O'Brien (father Charles O'Brien, Class of 1986)
  • Dominic Roto, Jr. (father Dominic Roto, Sr., Class of 1989)
  • Lisa Grady (father Michael Grady, Class of 1982)

The White Coat Ceremony was conceived by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation to create a psychological contract for professionalism and empathy in medicine. The first White Coat Ceremony took place in 1993 at Columbia's College of Physicians and Surgeons. Since then, more than 100 other medical schools in the U.S. and abroad have initiated a similar ceremony.

UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine has nationally recognized programs in geriatric medicine, rural medicine, primary care and osteopathic manipulative medicine. Of all licensed physicians in Maine, more have graduated from UNECOM than from any other medical school in the country.  In Maine, UNECOM doctors account for 11 percent of all physicians, 15 percent of all primary care providers, and 25 percent of rural doctors.