LMP students gain their white coats
Students in the MHSc in Laboratory Medicine program in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine received their white coats recently in the graduate program’s first in-person event since March 2020.
An important milestone, it recognises when a student becomes a healthcare professional and the responsibility that entails. They are given their white coat and recite the Declaration of Geneva. A medical code of ethics, The Declaration of Geneva highlights the humanitarian character of the physicians' profession and the field of medicine. It was first established in Geneva in 1948 and the current version was adopted by the World Medical Association (WMA) in 2017.
LMP students in the 1st year of the Pathologists’ Assistant (PA) field and the 2nd year of the Clinical Embryology (CE) field complete this ceremony as they will begin rotations in clinical laboratories in the summer where they begin working on real patient samples.
The event was hosted by Graduate and Life Sciences Education Officer, Brandon Wells, and attended by LMP Department Chair, Dr. Rita Kandel (virtually), Program Director Dr. Avrum Gotlieb, Pathologists’ Assistant leads Dr. Fang-I Lu and Will Tsui, and Clinical Embryology leads Dr. Heather Shapiro, Dr. Scot Hamilton and Dr. Ted Brown, with Ian Marquez from the administrative team. Friends and family attended virtually.
Jenna Baffa and Monica Farag, representing the CE students, said at the event “We learned to formulate well-rounded arguments using scientific evidence, we developed our communication skills, strengthened our ability to appreciate others’ perspectives, and formed great connections with our mentors and with each other. On this very special day, where we receive our white coats and prepare to enter the clinical embryology field… we cannot express the honour it has been to be part of such an incredible program”.
Cassie Hillock-Watling, representing the PA students, added “The small class we have allows for a very collaborative and interactive environment, as well as allowing us to have a close relationship with faculty. It’s awesome to have people who are actively doing research and working in hospitals teach us and pass on their wisdom.”
Dr. Gotlieb commented, “As this important training milestone is reached, our faculty teachers are very proud of the academic accomplishments achieved by our hard-working PA and CE students. After acquiring fundamental knowledge in basic biomedical science, research methods and clinical laboratory management, we now look forward to continuing training this outstanding group of students in clinical laboratories where they are very excited to become proficient in the procedures and skills of their discipline. It is truly an honor and a pleasure to teach in the MHSc in Laboratory Medicine program.”
Photos from the LMP White Coat Ceremony 2022
