St. George's University Welcomes Class Of 2018

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Sep 24, 2014, 12:43 ET

Medical Students from 42 Countries Enter Profession at White Coat Ceremony

GRENADA, West Indies, Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical and veterinary students from 42 countries were inducted into the profession of medicine at St. George's University Schools of Medicine's and Veterinary Medicine's White Coat Ceremonies this fall, donning freshly minted white coats, symbols of professionalism and high standards, and collectively reciting the Oath of Professional Commitment.

SGU Class of 2018 (PRNewsFoto/St. George's University)

The theme of each evening was framed by the symbolic white coat itself as a treasure trove of metaphors for a well-lived professional life. The white coat has many pockets in which practicing doctors keep essential items. The incoming medical students were urged to also keep in their pockets the essential qualities of a good physician – intellectual curiosity, humility, determination and empathy.

The master of ceremonies for the St. George's University School of Medicine ceremony, Dr. Jonathan Ashcroft, MD SGU '08, vividly remembered his own White Coat Ceremony at SGU. He shared an enlightening experience in his medical career where a patient's hospitalization following an accident led to the fortuitous early detection and successful treatment of a rare and potentially lethal cancer.

"Chance favors the prepared mind. The education you receive at SGU will prepare your mind," he said. "Take advantage of all the opportunities open to you here. Challenge yourself, learn from each other, and enjoy your journey. The best is yet to come."

Chancellor Modica urged the incoming students to take advantage of the enormous opportunity they had. "I want you to realize and cherish the fact that you will be working, living, and studying with people from all countries, faiths, and backgrounds," said Charles R. Modica, Chancellor of St. George's University. "You will become a family and you will leave here with so much more than your degree. You will leave here with a greater respect and understanding of the people of the world."

Three alumni – Charter Class graduate Paul Verona, MD SGU '81; Joe Behymer, MD SGU '87; and Michele Belding, MD SGU '82 – each had children following in their footsteps and continuing their SGU legacy. As alumni, they each had the special honor of robing their children on stage at the ceremony.

The entering veterinary class also had the honor of hearing from Dr. Raymond Sis, Dean Emeritus and Immediate Past Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, as its keynote speaker at a separate ceremony. He shared with the students the ingredients necessary for a successful veterinary career: veterinary medical knowledge, technical skills, and life skills, including leadership and communication.

"Start challenging yourself to be the best doctor you can be," he said. "Be sure to look beyond the traditional careers. The future of veterinary medicine is bright and your future is unlimited."

In addition, the University's Veterinary Surgical Laboratory was renamed Ray and Jan Sis Hall during a ceremony held outside the newly named building, which honored the Sis family's leadership and vision during Dr. Sis's 13-year tenure.

The White Coat Ceremonies surrounded the activities of the University's bi-annual Beyond Spice Family Weekend, enabling students and family members to soak up nature and culture in Grenada prior to students' first steps into the medical profession

About St. George's University
St. George's University is a center of international education, drawing students and faculty from 140 countries to the island of Grenada, in the West Indies, to its programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, science, and business. St. George's is affiliated with educational institutions worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Ireland. The University's over 14,000 graduates include physicians, veterinarians, scientists, and public health and business professionals across the world. The University programs are accredited and approved by many governing authorities and repeatedly recognized as the best in the region. For more information, visit www.sgu.edu.