Rowan-Virtua SOM welcomes class of 2028 with inspiring White Coat Ceremony

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (SOM) welcomed 288 future physicians during dual White Coat Ceremonies held on August 9 on the University’s main campus in Glassboro. The largest incoming medical school class in New Jersey received their white coats across two ceremonies on Sunday in Pfleeger Concert Hall.

Dr. Richard Jermyn, dean of Rowan-Virtua SOM, welcomed the Class of 2028, expressing confidence in their potential and achievements. “We have tremendous confidence in you,” he said. He went on to highlight the diversity of the class: More than 60 percent of the students are from New Jersey, with 16 percent from South Jersey, and 56 percent are women. Students also hail from 15 states and as far away as California, British Columbia, and Canada. “And finally,” Jermyn reminded the students, “always remember the character of your white coat is only as good as the character of the person who wears it.”

Rowan University President Ali Houshmand also addressed the incoming class, expressing his excitement about the bright future that awaits them at Rowan-Virtua SOM. “You have come to a very special place at a very special time,” Houshmand said, emphasizing the university’s growth and recent partnership with Virtua Health, which he noted will greatly expand opportunities for students.

Houshmand spoke about the significance of Rowan-Virtua SOM being part of the Virtua Health College of Medicine & Health Sciences, highlighting how this partnership would allow more students to learn alongside doctors in South Jersey’s largest health system. He also welcomed the first cohort of medical students who will reside on the Glassboro campus, noting the vibrant community and innovative faculty they would join.

“As you put on your new white coats and recite your pledge of commitment, remember that you are the embodiment of our hopes and aspirations,” Houshmand said. “Your decision to join us reflects Rowan-Virtua’s reputation as an ever-expanding hub for clinical care and academic medicine in South Jersey.”

Students were welcomed with two gifts in their white coats. The traditional White Coat Note, personally written by faculty, staff, or an administrator, extended a warm welcome and congratulations to students embarking on their medical careers. They also received a naloxone dispenser (NARCAN), a nasal spray that saves lives in drug overdose emergencies, serving as a reminder of the critical role students will undertake in their medical journeys.

Dr. Ira Monka, president of the American Osteopathic Association and a 1984 graduate of SOM, also addressed the Class of 2028. He urged the students to embrace the core osteopathic principles of treating the whole patient and to seize every opportunity for growth, both personally and professionally. “Remember that the greatest achievements often arise from moments of uncertainty and discomfort,” Monka said, encouraging the students to see challenges as opportunities for transformation. “You will become ambassadors of compassion, champions of healing, and beacons of hope in a world that is in desperate need of healing.”

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

A recording of the White Coat Ceremonies is available here.