- March 24, 2025
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OCOM's first White Coat Ceremony was held Friday, Sept. 13.
OCOM's inaugural White Coat Ceremony was held at the Walt Disney Theater in the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
Keynote speaker Sheetal K. Patel, left, posed with dean Robert T. Hasty.
Student doctors Krina Patel, left, and Brianna Vaghela donned their best dresses for the special ceremony.
The Class of 2028 includes student doctors Skyla Griswold, left, Aaron Brask, and Alexa-Marie Campbell.
Student Doctors Ayush Patel, left, and Zachary Nordelo held their white coats before the start of the ceremony.
OCOM's inaugural class includes student doctors Alexandra Beratta, left, and Lorian Gibson.
Student doctors Jason Perez, left, Ledio Gjunkshi, Abdur-Rehman Hussain and Braden Woo prepared for their White Coat Ceremony.
Ashesh Soni, left, and Harshul Gupta are two of the student doctors who attended the event.
Academic advisor Kelly Peter, left, helped student doctor Rohit Anandani put on his white coat for the first time.
The student doctors honored at the ceremony include Hanna Schindler, left, and Radha Gonsai.
Student doctor Krishna Bhakta, left, invited her uncle, Shirish Bhakta, to the ceremony.
Osvaldo Musegue, right, gave his daughter, student doctor Donna Musegue, a kiss on the cheek for her accomplishment.
Eva Chen, Ping Zhou, Frank Chen, student doctor Daniel Chen and Bangchi Chen captured the special day with a family photo.
Student doctor Carolina Rodriguez, center, celebrated the special day with mother Mercy Rodriguez and father Eduardo Rodriguez.
Student doctor Carolina Rodriguez held her niece, Celine Rodriguez, for an adorable picture.
Student doctor Nikki Gray was all smiles in front of the photo wall after donning her white coat.
Horizon West’s Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine celebrated the Class of 2028 at the organization's inaugural White Coat Ceremony Friday, Sept. 13, at the Walt Disney Theater in the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
The White Coat Ceremony is a symbolic and significant rite of passage for medical students as they embark on their journey into the medical profession. It marks the moment when students first don their white coats, which represent their commitment to the values of medicine — compassion, professionalism and dedication to patient care.
The ceremony, which was created by Dr. Arnold P. Gold in 1993 at Columbia University, emphasizes the humanistic aspects of health care.
For students, the ceremony serves as a powerful reminder of the responsibilities and privileges of becoming a physician. By wearing the white coat, students take their first steps in joining a long-standing tradition of healing and service.
All of OCOM's students received a ceremonial pin at the event from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.
OCOM’s ceremony included an invocation; messages from founder Kiran C. Patel, dean Robert T. Hasty, the school’s Board of Trustees and representatives from the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association; a keynote address from Sheetal Patel, daughter of the school’s founders; and the white coat presentation.
