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    Webinar: White Coat Ceremonies during COVID-19: Tools, Resources, and an Open Forum to Explore Virtual Options

    On June 30, 2020, the AAMC hosted the webinar White Coat Ceremonies during COVID-19: Tools, Resources, and an Open Forum to Explore Virtual Options. The beginning of summer is often an indicator that it is time to begin planning for your institution’s White Coat Ceremony. Due to COVID-19, many schools have already shifted to virtual ceremonies for Convocations and other special events.

    As White Coat Ceremony season nears, we want to ensure that administrators feel well-supported in conducting this ceremony virtually.
    The Arnold P. Gold Foundation established the White Coat Ceremony in 1993. The iconic ritual provides an important emphasis on compassionate, collaborative, scientifically excellent care from the very first day of training. Though medical school will look different for these incoming students, we look forward to sharing in the preservation of this important tradition.

    Together with the AAMC, the Gold Foundation created this webinar to share tools and resources as well as provide an opportunity to hear your questions and/or concerns surrounding a virtual White Coat Ceremony. Some topics that were discussed in this webinar included technology/platform options, reciting the oath, involving family and friends, keynote speakers, and maintaining longstanding traditions (pinning, cloaking, etc.).

    Moderator:
    Geoffrey H. Young, PhD
    Senior Director, Student Affairs and Programs
    Association of American Medical Colleges

    Speakers:
    David J. Skorton, MD
    President and CEO
    Association of American Medical Colleges

    Richard I. Levin, MD
    President and CEO
    The Arnold P. Gold Foundation

    Louisa Tvito, MSW
    Director, Gold Humanism Honor Society and Director, Program Initiatives
    The Arnold P. Gold Foundation

    Brandon J. Hunter
    Director of Student Affairs
    Association of American Medical Colleges

    Resources:
    Presentation Slides (PDF) 

    White Coat Ceremony Toolkit