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\u201cPutting on the white coat for the first time will usher in a lifetime of providing compassionate, ethical care,\u201d Lepowsky continued. \u201cIt\u2019s a passageway to serving humanity for the rest of your lives and an opportunity to be able to make a real difference in the lives of the individuals. I’m going to ask you to recognize the tremendous sense of social respect and authority that accompanies the white coat. Please use it as a platform to be a force for justice and fairness, particularly in light of the many challenges we face as a society. Try to be a powerful voice to advocate for equity in healthcare.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kathlene Gerrity, executive director of the Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA) welcomed students into the profession of dentistry and underscored the importance of advocacy.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should be an advocate and use your voice to advocate for yourself, your profession, and your patients. You should always ask questions and be able to say the hardest words in the English languages, which are, \u2018I need help.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerrity continued, \u201cThis is a very difficult profession you’re going into, because people are looking to you in this white coat as the voice of authority. And sometimes you don’t want to be, or you can’t. Your peers are here to support you. That’s what organized dentistry does. That’s what your colleagues in your class do. Say those words, advocate for yourself. And advocate for the profession.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Christine Tierney, vice president of the UConn Dental Alumni Board, received her DMD from UConn in 1986. In her remarks, Tierney reflected on her time at UConn and offered the incoming class words of wisdom.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, as you embark on your journey, know that dentistry has very much to offer,\u201d said Tierney. \u201cRemember that the work you do will ripple far beyond individual patients. You are entering a profession that plays a vital role in public health, and your contribution will matter at every level, from chair side to the global stage. Dentistry is central to overall health, personal well-being, and therefore, the strength of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile you are here at UConn, relationships will provide an enduring source of comradery\u2014surround yourself with individuals who share the same drive, determination, and commitment to excellent. Always remember that every patient you have is an opportunity to practice compassion, build trust, and enhance the quality of someone’s life. This is a profound privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Maria Smith, the New England section chair at the American College of Dentists, congratulated the students on their milestone and discussed the importance of making the right decisions, in line with the American College of Dentists\u2019 core mission of advancing excellence, ethics, and leadership in dentistry.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaintaining your high professional standards, your ideals, your selflessness, and using your education, your resources, and your good moral character to guide you in the delivery of consistent, high-quality care to your patients for their health and well-being is the essence of what an ethical individual is, and that is the essence of what being leader means,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n
The student greeting was delivered by Erin Carroll, a member of the Class of 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’ve made it,\u201d said Carroll. \u201c You’ve made it to the beginning of something that will challenge you, shape you, and ultimately transform you. Today’s ceremony marks more than just a moment you receive a white coat. It marks a promise to your patients, your profession, and yourself. The next chapter of your education is not just about mastering technique or memorizing anatomy. It’s about developing clinical judgment, empathy, and ethical clarity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDental school has shaped me into the provider I am today and has taught me far more than just clinical skills. I’ve learned empathy is just as important as diagnosis. Lean on each other, celebrate the wins, and always remember why you chose as a profession in the first place. In four years, it won’t be about finishing requirements, it will be about the lives you’ve touched, the people you’ve helped, and the confident, compassionate provider you’ve become,\u201d Carroll continued.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, Dr. Sarita Arteaga, associate dean for students, and Dr. Donna Paolella, associate dean for admissions, facilitated the presentation of coats for each student. Dr. Aditya Tadinada, associate dean for graduate research and education, presented each student with the Honor Code Affirmation and Code of Ethics booklet.<\/p>\n
After the students received their coats, the students recited The Dentist\u2019s Pledge, led by Dr. Jacqueline Duncan, assistant dean for clinical education.<\/p>\n
There were over 1,700 applicants for the Class of 2029 during the previous admissions cycle. In the incoming class, 58% are Connecticut residents, with 37% being UConn undergraduates\u2014known as \u201cdouble Huskies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kaila Lujambio, one of the double Huskies, said that the ceremony was a \u201cfull circle\u201d moment for her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m so excited,\u201d said Lujambio. \u201cThis is has been my dream for a really long time. In eighth grade, my future goal was to be a dentist, and to go to UConn too. It\u2019s a very full circle moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max Mobley, a graduate of Brown University, has enjoyed his first week at UConn.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s been really fun. I feel like everyone in the class is so friendly and it’s been really warm, so it’s just been a very welcoming experience.\u201d Mobley said.<\/p>\n
Christopher Adornato, shared a similar sentiment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have loved every second of it so far, and I look forward to growing relationships with everyone,\u201d said Adornato, a graduate of Fairfield University. \u201cThere\u2019s only 52 of us, and I think we could become a super close-knit group. And that’s what I’m looking forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n
The students spent the last week getting their first taste of dental school during orientation and launch\u2014 which includes over two weeks of introductory courses with School of Medicine students and social events to help get acquainted with fellow classmates.<\/p>\n
For Eniyah Garner, a graduate of Drew University, the White Coat Ceremony was a surreal moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels crazy,\u201d says Garner. \u201c Especially at the end when everyone is clapping for you\u2014you take a step back and you’re like, \u2018wow, I’m doing this.\u2019 You get in, and then you’re here and you’re doing it. It\u2019s a surreal moment.\u201d<\/p>\n