A rite of passage for medical students at Penn State College of Medicine — the 24th White Coat Ceremony — took place on Aug. 2. First-year medical students, including those pursuing their Doctorate of Medicine (M.D.) and Doctorate of Medicine/Doctorate of Philosophy (M.D./Ph.D.) degrees, received their first white medical coats.

For the entering class of 2019, the ceremony symbolized their entrance to the medical profession as student physicians. In the days leading up to the ceremony, they worked together to write their own Oath of Student Professionalism, which they recited after receiving their white coats.

The incoming class consists of 152 students selected from a pool of almost 12,000 applicants. Fifty-six (37%) of the new students are Pennsylvania residents.

The students come to Penn State College of Medicine from 102 undergraduate institutions across 25 states, Washington, D.C. and Canada. Combined, members of the incoming class speak 27 foreign languages. They have broad backgrounds with regard to international experiences, work, talents, research and service to communities.

For more photos of the White Coat ceremony, go to the photo album at https://www.flickr.com/photos/pennstatehershey/albums/72157710110825406