White Coat Ceremony

Yesterday was Steve's white coat ceremony (a.k.a. "Convocation"). They first had all the professors + the deans file in in their funky doctoral robes with their puffy tasseled hats, which I always find a little funny, and then the students filed up on stage. Gracie and I sat towards the back of the theater, and had to get up and rock in the back for about the last twenty minutes, not because Grace was fussing but because she was talking and chatting and making animal noises so loudly that everyone could hear her (Steve said he could hear her well from the stage!).

The first speaker was one of Steve's teachers, and he gave us a history of Wake Forest Medical school, and med school in general. Did you know that in 1870 you didn't have to have any education or even be literate to study medicine?? Luckily most of Steve's class is literate. He showed the growth of the school and even pictures from its inception here in the 40's up until now. Then the second speaker talked about how it takes more than intelligence and grades to be a doctor, and gave some examples of people who cheated and how that messed them up, and people who didn't get the best grades but secretly did all this volunteer work and how successful and happy they became. I think it was really good for a lot of these students to hear. So far I think Steve has done a really good job of balancing school with real life, and I am really proud of him.

They also spoke about the significance of the white coat. It used to be that doctors wore black like judges and undertakers, because it was considered a serious job, but later they switched to the white coats initially to encourage cleanliness, I think. They weren't super clear. And the medical students have shorter coats than doctors--theirs are waist length while a doctor's will go to his knees.

After the final speaker Steve's class of about 120 were all awarded their white coats. It was done graduation style, with a guy with a cool accent reading off each name. They walked across the stage, shrugged into their coats, and ta-da! One step closer to doctorhood. ;)