{"id":163747,"date":"2020-08-21T14:15:54","date_gmt":"2020-08-21T18:15:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?post_type=school-college-post&#038;p=163747"},"modified":"2025-05-21T12:09:38","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T16:09:38","slug":"bright-white-coats-futures-160-uconn-medical-dental-students-arrive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2020\/08\/bright-white-coats-futures-160-uconn-medical-dental-students-arrive\/","title":{"rendered":"Bright White Coats and Futures: 160 UConn Medical and Dental Students Arrive"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_163761\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-163761\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-163761 size-medium img-responsive lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Q3xWO3yQ-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"white coat ceremony\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Q3xWO3yQ-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Q3xWO3yQ-768x513.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Q3xWO3yQ-1024x684.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Q3xWO3yQ-630x420.jpeg 630w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Q3xWO3yQ-150x100.jpeg 150w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/200;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-163761\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>The dental school&#8217;s White Coat ceremony on Aug. 21 (Tina Encarnacion\/UConn Health).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>While UConn Health\u2019s White Coat ceremonies were held on Aug. 21 with social-distancing precautions, not even a pandemic could stop the incoming Class of 2024 from being celebrated with the time-honored tradition.<\/p>\n<p>With only medical and dental students in attendance, along with the few faculty members participating in the ceremonies, students entered the Academic Rotunda in staggered groups and one-by-one received a new, bright white coat symbolizing the start of his or her medical or dental school journey to become a future, trusted healthcare provider.<\/p>\n<p>During these COVID-19 extraordinary times, the medical and dental schools made sure to live-stream the special ceremonies to students, faculty, family and friends, along with the UConn Health community, who could not attend this year\u2019s ceremonies in-person like years past because of the pandemic and social-distancing needs.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"White Coat Ceremony for UConn Medical and Dental Class of 2024\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dH7cbti7rFA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a milestone in your career. All that hard work has paid off,\u201d shared UConn School of Medicine Dean Dr. Bruce T. Liang, in his address to the 110 new medical students with some in the Academic Rotunda while the others virtually watched from nearby auditoriums. \u201cDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen healthcare providers such as our own waking up each morning heading to care for COVID patients while putting themselves at risk of virus exposure. As a future healthcare worker, you will be our heroes as you go into medicine to serve and lead.\u00a0 It is not just a career but is a calling.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is my absolute pleasure to welcome all members of the Class of 2024 into the School of Dental Medicine, into the UConn family, and into the dental profession,\u201d shared UConn School of Dental Medicine Interim Dean Dr. Steven M. Lepowsky in his address to the 50 new dental students. \u201cI extend my heartiest greetings to the friends and families of our students who are joining us virtually; we wish that you could have been participating in this wonderful event in person, but maintaining the safety, health and well-being of everyone remains our priority. I am confident that we will have opportunities to celebrate together in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_163762\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-163762\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-163762 size-medium img-responsive lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/White-Coat-2020-htoJCW2Q-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"white coat ceremony\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/White-Coat-2020-htoJCW2Q-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/White-Coat-2020-htoJCW2Q-768x513.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/White-Coat-2020-htoJCW2Q-1024x684.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/White-Coat-2020-htoJCW2Q-630x420.jpeg 630w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/White-Coat-2020-htoJCW2Q-150x100.jpeg 150w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/200;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-163762\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Incoming medical student Sarthak Bothra, 22, of Fairfield (Tina Encarnacion\/UConn Health).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The important symbolism of a white coat was in focus at both the dental and medical ceremonies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe white coat is a symbol of the trust society places in you as healthcare providers,\u201d shared Lepowsky. \u201cThis is a great responsibility, but we have tremendous confidence that you are up to the challenge. The white coat is but a symbol of humanism, ethics and professionalism. These are traits that you wear from within &#8211; all of the time \u2013 not just when you have the article of clothing on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe White Coat ceremony was designed as a way to welcome new students into the medical profession,\u201d said Dr. Melissa Held, associate dean for medical student affairs. \u201cThis iconic ritual really provides an important emphasis on compassionate, collaborative, scientifically excellent care from the very first day of training.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Sarita Arteaga, associate dean for dental students agrees. \u201cThe White Coat ceremony emphasizes the privilege of being a healthcare provider.\u00a0 Having the dental students begin their journey with this symbolic tradition is special for us as faculty and for them as a welcome into the profession.\u00a0We look forward to watching their development as professionals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sarthak Bothra, 22 from Fairfield, studied biology at UConn before heading to its medical school. \u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to be a doctor since a little kid,\u201d said Bothra. \u201cI already love the people and place, and excited to continue my medical education.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_163760\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-163760\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-163760 size-medium img-responsive lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/jmgijDbg-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"white coat ceremony\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/jmgijDbg-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/jmgijDbg-768x513.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/jmgijDbg-1024x684.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/jmgijDbg-630x420.jpeg 630w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/jmgijDbg-150x100.jpeg 150w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/200;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-163760\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Class of 2024 dental student, Jerry Gargano, 28, of Branford receiving his new white coat (Tina Encarnacion\/UConn Health). <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Incoming dental student, Jerry Gargano, 28, of Branford is very excited to start his dental school journey after graduating from Bryant University with a business degree and two years of post-baccalaureate studies at UConn Storrs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is going to be an educational experience unlike any other,\u201d said Gargano. \u201cFor me, my white coat symbolizes a\u00a0giant leap into becoming a dental professional. Starting dental school during these times is\u00a0exciting and beneficial. It is beneficial because there are so many new learning\u00a0opportunities in health care right now. It is exciting\u00a0because we as students in health care get to learn how professionals in\u00a0our\u00a0field are managing the pandemic, and we get to contribute our knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gargano said: \u201cI chose UConn dental primarily for\u00a0the sense of community\u00a0that I know lies within the students, staff, and alumni here. Students are closer\u00a0to each other here than other Universities; and the same can be said for professor&#8217;s relationships to students as well as the alumni community. I am excited that dental school is going to be so hands-on.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"grey-sidebar full-sidebar\">\n  <\/p>\n<h3>Class of 2024 By the Numbers: UConn School of Medicine<\/h3>\n<p>The Class of 2024 has 110 medical students enrolled out of the 3,729 applications it received this year. The class has an average 3.77 GPA, 3.72 science GPA, and 84 percentile medical college admission test (MCAT) score. 39% are graduates from the University of Connecticut, and 80% are from Connecticut up approximately 7%. \u201cWe are seeing some impacts of the pandemic. People wanted to stay closer to home, and as you can see by our adding of more Connecticut residents,\u201d said Dr. Thomas Regan, assistant dean for the medical school\u2019s admissions and student affairs. Also, 53% are female and 47% are male with 18% of the incoming class from groups underrepresented in medicine (URiM). Overall, the SOM\u2019s total student body is nearly 23% URiM.<br \/>\n<\/aside>\n<p>First-year medical student Abigail Boursiquot, 23, grew-up in Stratford but is from Canada where she graduated from McGill University with a degree in microbiology and immunology. \u201cI am so happy to be back in a place closer to home. I love that UConn medical school has clinical integration right from the start, and it also has a greater sense of community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Boursiquot says, \u201cThis white coat is not just for me but my family. I hope that I can have a lasting impression on my community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>First-year dental student Tyler Hailey James, 22, was born in the U.S. and grew up in Saudi Arabia. As a graduate from UConn she chose its dental school for its strong commitment to diversity. \u201cI chose UConn Dental for its supportive community and well-rounded academic curriculum. I also admire UConn\u2019s commitment to diversity in all aspects of the institution, which will allow me to grow and learn from classmates and mentors.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"grey-sidebar full-sidebar\">\n  <\/p>\n<h3>Class of 2024 By the Numbers: UConn School of Dental Medicine<\/h3>\n<p>The Class of 2024 has 50 dental students enrolled selected from 1,222 applicants. The class has an average GPA of 3.72 and dental admission test (DAT) score of 21.9. 60% of the class are Connecticut residents and nearly one-third are UConn graduates. \u201cThis is an extremely well-qualified class,\u201d said Interim Dean Dr. Steven Lepowsky. The class is majority male at 54% and 46% female, a reversal from recent enrollment trends and 22% of the incoming class are from underrepresented in dental (URiD) groups. \u201cI need to recognize the incredible efforts Dr. Marja Hurley and everyone in the Health Careers Opportunity Program office helping us achieve that goal.\u201d<br \/>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Incoming medical student Abeid Anslip of Hartford attended UConn as an undergrad and is proud to become a \u201cdouble husky.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been a frequent participant of the HCOP pipeline programs which gave me my first exposure to clinical medicine and led me here today,\u201d said Anslip. \u201cThank you to the HCOP office and Dr. Hurley.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>All new UConn Health medical and dental students are required to wear masks while on campus along with returning students. In addition to being issued stethoscopes, new students also have each received face shields should they need to be closer than 6 ft. to carry out their clinical patient care training experiences. They will experience a hybrid learning experience, a combination of in-person campus learning and virtual coursework. Classrooms that allow for limited capacity and social-distancing requirements will be used.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_163759\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-163759\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-163759 size-medium img-responsive lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/6ma8h8XA-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"white coat ceremony\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/6ma8h8XA-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/6ma8h8XA-768x513.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/6ma8h8XA-1024x684.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/6ma8h8XA-630x420.jpeg 630w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/6ma8h8XA-150x100.jpeg 150w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/200;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-163759\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>UConn School of Dental Medicine Class of 2024 (Tina Encarnacion\/UConn Health).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Classes officially kick-off on Aug. 31.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are making sure that we provide physical distancing between each other and appropriate mask use to keep each other safe,\u201d stressed Held, associate dean for medical student affairs.<\/p>\n<p>And what is it like starting medical school during a pandemic?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s challenging to meet new people, but it\u2019s all we\u2019ve ever known so it\u2019s hard to compare to,\u201d said Bothra, SOM Class of 2024. \u201cI look forward to meeting my classmates and getting started!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am so thankful that we are able to come to campus, even if it is for a short while,\u201d said James, a dental student.<\/p>\n<p>Interim Dean Lepowsky applauded the incoming dental school class. \u201cYou represent 50 of the finest, most talented, and accomplished students anywhere \u2013 period. Class of 2024 &#8211; you are the future of our profession and we could not be in better hands!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dean Liang said: \u201cAs you embark on this first stage of medical training, remember your commitment to one another rowing in the same boat towards being the best that you can be in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Leelakrishna Channa, first-year medical student from Glastonbury, has been dreaming of UConn Health since a child.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGrowing up I remember driving on I-84 and just looking up at UConn Health,\u201d shared Channa with his SOM classmates. \u201cLooking up at it in some kind of wonder and just thinking of it as a city on a hill. I am so proud to be here and it\u2019s an honor to be part of this class.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>New medical student Patrick Bogui happily shared, \u201cI love using my gifts and talents to serve others. This ceremony today is very special for me as I get a chance to embark on a journey to do just that!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Missed the White Coat ceremonies? Watch the replays:<\/strong><em><br \/>\nAug. 21 at 10:00 a.m. <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/mediasite.uchc.edu\/mediasite41\/Play\/10dc57240ef244508b1998cb177429741d\"><em>UConn School of Medicine White Coat Ceremony<\/em><\/a> <em><br \/>\nAug. 21 at 1:00 p.m. <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/mediasite.uchc.edu\/mediasite41\/Play\/129af45a587745a09d109ddf3b0eecb01d\"><em>UConn School of Dental Medicine White Coat Ceremony<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The annual White Coat ceremonies for UConn School of Medicine and UConn School of Dental Medicine&#8217;s Class of 2024 were still held on Aug. 21 with social-distancing precautions and live-streamed video broadcasts to faculty, family and friends. Not even a pandemic stopped the medical and dental schools from safely celebrating the time-honored tradition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":98,"featured_media":163763,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2166,1868],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[1873],"class_list":["post-163747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sdm","category-meds"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-09 14:55:33","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/98"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=163747"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163747\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":230983,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163747\/revisions\/230983"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/163763"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=163747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=163747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=163747"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=163747"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=163747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}