White Coat Ceremony for Inaugural Class of Medical Students
--"As a medical student and a future doctor, I solemnly promise that I will perform to the best of my ability to care for the sick, promote good health, and alleviate suffering."
On the morning of 3 September, the solemn pledge of the inaugural class of medical students resonated through the halls of the School of Medicine at the White Coat Ceremony.
In his speech, Vice President Tom Luo expressed his ardent expectations for the new students by quoting a traditional Chinese saying:
"Those whose virtue is not as noble as Buddha's cannot be doctors, and those whose talent (medical skills) is not as brilliant as God's cannot be doctors."
Prof. Luo hopes that students will become healers with a soul, conscience, warmth and commitment, and continuously refine their medical skills, sharpen their character, and bring happiness and hope to the world by guarding life as their original intention.
During the gowning session, university officers and representatives of the medical school faculty conferred white coats on the inaugural class, marking the spiritual baptism and transformation into a medical student.
The white coat of a doctor symbolizes purity, love and devotion. The ceremony is meant to impart to medical students an understanding of the sacred duties and mission of a medical practitioner, to pass on the spirit of the medical profession of "saving lives and helping the injured", and to bring about a lifelong reverence and faith in life.
Led by Professor Tam, Siu Cheung Michael, the medical students solemnly pledged: "I therefore pledge to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitude required for the practice of medicine.”
The white coat and mission were passed on, and the pledge was powerful. With a positive outlook and high morale, the medical students expressed their determination and belief to strive for a lifetime in medicine.
This is the beginning, not the end, the School of Medicine hopes that every medical student will cherish the opportunity to live up to the glory of the white coat and take up the responsibility of being the guardian of people's lives and health in the future.
