White Coats celebrate history at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine

On Sunday, August 21, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM) officially welcomed 288 future physicians during a traditional White Coat Ceremony on the University’s main campus in Glassboro.

Although they have only recently joined the university, the Class of 2026 has already made history at SOM:

• The 288 students – selected from among over 6,000 applicants – comprise the largest class in the medical school’s 46-year history.
• The Class of 2026 is the largest class of any New Jersey medical school.
• They are the first class to include RowanSOM’s new, Sewell campus.
• They are the first students admitted following Rowan’s historic partnership with Virtua Health to develop a premier health sciences college in South Jersey. 

In his welcoming remarks to the students and their guests, RowanSOM Dean Dr. Thomas Cavalieri, pointed out that while nearly three-quarters of the class is from New Jersey, the students came from 15 different states, including Alaska. He also remarked that the 72 students on the school’s new Sewell campus are part of history for SOM and for medical education in South Jersey.

Dr. Reginald Blaber, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer for Virtua Health, also offered welcoming remarks to the students. He reminded students that “…the most powerful healing tool of all will always be the compassion and empathy that we show our patients as we stand with them when they are in harm’s way.”

In January 2022, Virtua Health and Rowan University announced an historic partnership to advance patient care and train the health care workforce of the future. In recognition of that partnership, the Class of 2026 was presented with specially-produced white coats, featuring both the Virtua Health College and School of Osteopathic Medicine branding.

During the ceremony, the first year medical students were called to the stage individually where senior administration officials presented the students with the white medical coats that symbolize their acceptance into the medical profession. For the next four years, the students will wear those coats for all interactions with patients.

The White Coat Ceremony tradition began in 1993 at Columbia University and, in 1996, RowanSOM became the first osteopathic medical school to hold a White Coat Ceremony.

Because of the large class size, Rowan hosted two White Coat Ceremonies on Sunday. Both ceremonies took place in Pfleeger Theater, Wilson Hall on Rowan’s Glassboro campus.

A recording of the White Coat Ceremonies is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WB1VpBoqlA.