Friends and family filled the seats of the Tampa Convention Center for the White Coat ceremony for the Class of 2024. The ceremony is traditionally held during the first year of medical school but the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the celebration for the now second-year medical students.

When COVID-19 postponed the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Class of 2024 White Coat Ceremony last year, that group of medical students pondered if they’d ever get one. On August 24, 2021, at the Tampa Convention Center, USF Health and MCOM leaders, friends and family welcomed the now second-year medical students to their medical school journey, providing them with a time to cite and oath to themselves and their patients.

Among those in attendance was Rhea Law, interim president of the University of South Florida.

Friends and family filled the seats of the Tampa Convention Center to share the moment with the Class of 2024 during their white coat ceremony, which is traditionally held during the first year of medical school. The COVID-19 pandemic postponed the celebration for the now second-year medical students.

Charles Lockwood, MD, MHCM, USF Health senior vice president and MCOM dean, addressed the Class of 2024 medical students, assuring them of the importance of receiving their white coats and reciting their oath, despite the one-year delay.

“The white coat represents a commitment to grit and lifelong learning,” he said to the students. “You must be prepared to keep up with the latest diagnostic tests, imaging techniques, devices, drugs and management paradigms. The passion, determination, grit and perseverance that got you here will get you through.”

Dr. Charles Lockwood, USF Health senior vice president and MCOM dean.

USF Interim President Rhea Law received an honorary white coat from fourth-year medical student Jacob Wasserman. She spent time visiting with students before the ceremony to learn more about why they decided to pursue a career in medicine.

Pres. Rhea Law and Dr. Charles Lockwood (both center) with a group of students before the ceremony.

Pres. Rhea Law chats with students before the MCOM Class of 2024 White Coat Ceremony.

Jacob Wasserman, fourth-year medical student, helps Pres. Rhea Law with her honorary white coat.

Pres. Rhea Law and Jacob Wasserman, fourth-year medical student, after she received an honorary white coat.

Jacob Wasserman, fourth-year medical student, spoke to the students and their families during the ceremony. He reflected on his personal experience having a team of health care providers care for him after he had brain surgery. He said they didn’t just check on his vitals, but also his well-being. “It’s never too early to start making a positive impact on your patient’s care,” he urged his fellow students.

Jacob Wasserman, MCOM fourth-year medical student.

Amy Weiss, MD, associate professor for MCOM Department of Pediatrics, spoke to the group about what it means to wear the white coat. “Wear it with poise and pride. You are entering medical school at a historic time,” she said to the students during her speech.

Dr. Amy Weiss, associate professor in the MCOM Department of Pediatrics.

It’s a tradition in the ceremony for instructors, mentors, and counselors to help put the students’ white coats on their shoulders. In order to adhere to the guidelines of the USF COVID-19 Task Force, students put their own coats on and helped their classmates with theirs.

The white coat ceremony is not complete until the students recite The Oath of Commitment, led by Deborah DeWaay, MD, FACP, associate dean of MCOM’s Undergraduate Medical Education.

It didn’t matter for the students and their families that this ceremony happened a year later, as long as they could celebrate this momentous occasion together.