College of Medicine – Tucson’s newest class receive white coats

July 27, 2023
Six college of medicine faculty members wearing white coats and acting silly walk outside on their way to the white coat ceremony.

(From left) The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson’s Raquel Hernández Givens, MEd, interim assistant dean and senior director of curricular affairs; Kevin F. Moynahan, MD, FACP, vice dean of education; Celia P. Valenzuela, MD, vice dean of diversity, equity and inclusion; Richard M. Amini, MD, associate dean of student affairs; Michael M.I. Abecassis, MD, MBA, dean; and Daniel C. Butler, MD, assistant dean of student affairs, ham it up on their way to a group photo after the college celebrated their new class of medical students at their annual white coat ceremony on July 21.

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson welcomed its class of 2027 during the traditional white coat ceremony in Centennial Hall on July 21. The annual event recognizes medical students’ entry into medicine with their first physician’s white coat, the garment of their future profession.

“This ceremony is an opportunity to welcome students into our professional community and remind them of the values they will be held accountable for as medical students and physicians,” said Kevin Moynahan, MD, the college’s vice dean for education and a professor of medicine. “The COVID-19 pandemic served as a powerful reminder of the indispensable role of medical professionals in our society. As we welcome this incoming class, we celebrate the duty of physicians to serve their communities by providing compassionate, patient-centered medical care.”

The class of 2027 is 62% female and 38% male, with ages ranging from 20 to 36. Of the 120 students, 89 are from Arizona, 26 are from Tucson and 12% are first-generation college students.

A version of this story was originally published on the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson website.

A white male medical student with a beard smiles and gives two thumbs-up as several female medical students smile behind him.
A young, brown-skinned femal medical student with long dark hair looks puts on her white medical coat.
A male medical student stands on stage as a female faculty member helps him put on his white medical coat.
A young black medical student stands next to a white male faculty member. Both are smiling and wearing white medical coats.
A young female medical student with long dark hair smiles as a female faculty member helps her put on her white coat.
A light-skinned female medical student with long blonde hair smiles as she fist-bumps a male faculty member after receiving her white coat.
A dark-skinned femal medical studeent stands next to a femal faculty member. Both are wearing white medical coats and smiling.
A blonde female medical student wearing a white medical coat reaches out to shake the hand of a professor who is in a line with other faculty all wearing white coats.
A young Asian male medical student stands next to a female professor with his arm on her shoulder. Both are smiling and wearing white medical coats.
A Hispanic female medical student in a white coat smiles as she reaches out to shake hands with a faculty member.
Two male medical school professors wearing white coats hug.
Three female medical students in white coats smile while holding up their hands make the Arizona Wildcat sign.
A female medical school professor making a silly face peeks around a group of five people in white medical coats as they pose for a photo.
A group of about 15 women stand together, many of them medical students wearing white coats, smiling outside in the grass.
A young white male medical student stands with his arm around his mom, both are wearing white medical coats and smiling.
A group of over 100 medical school students and faculty wearing white coats raise their hands cheering outside a building with large pillars.
Six medical school faculty members wearing white coats laugh and make funny gestures with their arms while standing in a hall.