Fall 2013 Ceremonies
Fall 2013 Ceremonies
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The White Coat Ceremony
Every August, first-year Einstein medical students take part in the White Coat Ceremony: An Einstein alumnus “cloaks” each student in a physician’s white coat that the Einstein Alumni Association has donated. The white coat symbolizes the responsibilities that await the future physicians—and the humanistic values and scientific excellence they will need. The event is also known as the On Becoming a Physician ceremony.
The Stethoscope Ceremony
The Stethoscope Ceremony introduces each new class of Einstein students to a critical tool used in physical diagnosis.
The keynote speaker at this year’s ceremony on September 9 was Janina Galler, M.D. ’72, a member of the Alumni Association board of governors. Dr. Galler observed that the stethoscope literally connects the physician and the patient, serving as a tool not only for listening but for learning. The Class of 2017 also heard encouraging words from Felise B. Milan, M.D. ’88, director of the Introduction to Clinical Medicine (ICM) course; Martha S. Grayson, M.D. ’79, senior associate dean for medical education; Martin N. Cohen, M.D., professor of medicine (cardiology); and Mimi McEvoy, N.P., M.A., co-director of the second-year ICM course. Students left the ceremony with stethoscopes donated by Einstein alumni.
Scrubs Day
Each fall, every first-year Einstein medical student receives a set of scrubs to mark the start of the Gross Anatomy course. The scrubs are provided by the Alumni Association.
Scrubs Day on October 2 featured remarks by Harris Goldstein, M.D. ’80, the professor of pediatrics (allergy & immunology) who conceived this unique Einstein tradition several years ago; Jack Stern, M.D. ’74, Ph.D. ’73, immediate past president, Alumni Association board of governors; Todd R. Olson, Ph.D., course director, Clinical and Developmental Anatomy; and Raja Flores, M.D. ’92, representing the Alumni Association board.
This year’s scrubs were black—a hip New York fashion statement.
The Declaration Celebration
At the Declaration Celebration, first-year graduate students who’ve completed their coursework and laboratory rotations “declare” the lab where they will conduct their research leading to the Ph.D. degree. The third annual Declaration Celebration on August 22 opened with a welcome by Victoria H. Freedman, Ph.D. ’77, associate dean for graduate programs in biomedical sciences. The keynote speaker, Arturo Casadevall, M.D., Ph.D., the Leo and Julia Forchheimer Chair in Microbiology and Immunology, advised the honorees to “be good to those around you” and “embrace all aspects of scientific integrity.”
The Board of Overseers, the Alumni Association and the graduate programs in the biomedical sciences sponsor the Declaration Celebration.
The Qualification Jubilation
Toward the end of their second year, Einstein graduate students show they’re ready to begin independent research by taking the notoriously rigorous qualifying exam known as “the qual.” The Qualification Jubilation honors students who have passed the test. The second annual Jubilation, co-sponsored by the graduate division and the Alumni Association, took place on October 22;the guest speaker was Julie Secombe, Ph.D., assistant professor of genetics.
The event has the enthusiastic support of Ruth L. Gottesman, Ed.D., chair of the Einstein Board of Overseers, and Overseer Nathan Kahn, head of the education and student affairs committee.
Gold Humanism Inductions
On October 8, 17 fourth-year medical students and one Einstein faculty member joined the Einstein chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, which recognizes individuals nominated by their peers for unique devotion to patient care.
Faculty inductee Andrea W. Littleton, M.D., assistant professor of family and social medicine, was the keynote speaker.
Among the student inductees was Emily Guh, a founding member of Bronx, Obesity, Diabetes and You, who considers her work with Bronx patients “the most important aspect of my Einstein training.” In addition, she enjoys working with Chinese-speaking patients and is honing her medical Mandarin skills. In 2013, Emily received the Dean’s Recognition Award, given to students who have demonstrated exceptional academic and clinical performance and the potential to contribute to medicine, science and patient care.
Emily plans to practice family medicine. Her long-term goal: helping implement a Patient-Centered Medical Home model of care featuring multidisciplinary teams and the efficient use of electronic medical records.
