For U of A dental students, wearing a white coat means they've entered a point in their education where they will start the clinical part of their training and become an integral part of patient-care delivery. On May 3, the 16th Annual White Coat Ceremony was held for the second-year dental students.
Each year dental students look forward to receiving their white coats as they get to put their didactic learning into action.
"As the School of Dentistry celebrates its 100th year, traditions like the White Coat Ceremony are important to recognize and honour," said Dr. Paul Major, chair of the School of Dentistry. "Although the White Coat Ceremony has only been around for 16 years, the symbolic move from didactic learning to patient care has been around for decades. The students become our junior colleagues and integral members of our patient care delivery teams, all the while learning and training for their eventual entry into the profession of Dentistry."
Dr. Dennis Bedard, School of Dentistry faculty member, pediatric dentist, and founder of Dentistry for All, led the charge to the students saying: "Being a professional means learning and honing your skills for the rest of your life. You are embarking on a life long journey of continuing education. Being a professional is making sure that each time you treat a patient it will enhance their oral, and overall health. Being a professional will mean getting involved in your community and your dental association. Being a professional means to put the patient first, and if you do, you will have more success than you will ever dream of."
On behalf of the class 2019, Brenda Pham and Navi Bharj, second-year dental students, accepted this charge.
"So much will be expected of us in the next two years," said Bharj during his speech. "Professionalism, code of ethics, patient-centered care, integrity, and rigorous infection prevention and control protocol. It all sounds very scary doesn't it? I ask you all to embrace the challenge. Trust in yourself and your peers in the same way our educators and protecting bodies do. The next two years of dentistry is not the "survival of the fittest"; on the contrary, it is more like the other Darwinian theory; evolution. Help your peers, learn from your mistakes, be molded by your colleagues and educators to dentists who embody integrity, professionalism, and patient-centered care. We will embrace this privilege of being accepted into this profession and run with it."
Pham thanked the School of Dentistry staff and faculty, "Thank you for not giving up on us. You are not just a beacon of knowledge, hope, and guidance, you are our mentors and individuals we strive to become. Thank you for molding us to become future dental professionals and putting up with the snail pace progress over the last 2 years."
Congratulations class of 2019!
Each year dental students look forward to receiving their white coats as they get to put their didactic learning into action.
"As the School of Dentistry celebrates its 100th year, traditions like the White Coat Ceremony are important to recognize and honour," said Dr. Paul Major, chair of the School of Dentistry. "Although the White Coat Ceremony has only been around for 16 years, the symbolic move from didactic learning to patient care has been around for decades. The students become our junior colleagues and integral members of our patient care delivery teams, all the while learning and training for their eventual entry into the profession of Dentistry."
Dr. Dennis Bedard, School of Dentistry faculty member, pediatric dentist, and founder of Dentistry for All, led the charge to the students saying: "Being a professional means learning and honing your skills for the rest of your life. You are embarking on a life long journey of continuing education. Being a professional is making sure that each time you treat a patient it will enhance their oral, and overall health. Being a professional will mean getting involved in your community and your dental association. Being a professional means to put the patient first, and if you do, you will have more success than you will ever dream of."
On behalf of the class 2019, Brenda Pham and Navi Bharj, second-year dental students, accepted this charge.
"So much will be expected of us in the next two years," said Bharj during his speech. "Professionalism, code of ethics, patient-centered care, integrity, and rigorous infection prevention and control protocol. It all sounds very scary doesn't it? I ask you all to embrace the challenge. Trust in yourself and your peers in the same way our educators and protecting bodies do. The next two years of dentistry is not the "survival of the fittest"; on the contrary, it is more like the other Darwinian theory; evolution. Help your peers, learn from your mistakes, be molded by your colleagues and educators to dentists who embody integrity, professionalism, and patient-centered care. We will embrace this privilege of being accepted into this profession and run with it."
Pham thanked the School of Dentistry staff and faculty, "Thank you for not giving up on us. You are not just a beacon of knowledge, hope, and guidance, you are our mentors and individuals we strive to become. Thank you for molding us to become future dental professionals and putting up with the snail pace progress over the last 2 years."
Congratulations class of 2019!