White Coats for a Class of New Recruits

Orientation week for the 170 students in the Class of 2008 culminated in the annual White Coat ceremony on Sunday, August 8, during which each student for the first time donned the white lab coat that is emblematic of their medical education over the next four years.

Chosen from nearly 5,000 applicants, this year’s entering class represents 31 states, with 47 percent of students coming from the state of Michigan. Forty-four percent of the class is female, and the average age is 23. Biology, biomedical science, chemistry, the humanities and engineering were the predominant fields of undergraduate study of incoming students this year. Eight students are enrolled in the Medical Scientist Training Program, pursuing Ph.D.s along with their medical degrees.

—RK