College of Medicine – Phoenix class of 2028 gets white coats

July 25, 2024
A new University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix student in a blue dress stretches out her arms as a professor puts a medical white coat on her.

McKenna Anise Rich holds out her arms to receive her coat during the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix’s white coat ceremony on July 19.

Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix welcomed the class of 2028 during its annual white coat ceremony on July 19. With 130 students selected from more than 5,500 applicants, the class of 2028 is the largest and one of the most diverse classes since opening in 2007. Donning their white coats for the first time is a symbol of each student’s commitment and lifelong dedication to advocacy, professionalism and patient-centered care.

As the students’ friends and families gathered in the West Ballroom of the Phoenix Convention Center to celebrate this important milestone, Dean Fred E. Wondisford, MD, MS, MBA, opened the ceremony by sharing wisdom and guidance with the students.

“Each of you has your own why for choosing a career in medicine and a unique path that led you here. The experiences ahead will transform you from a talented, carefully selected student, into a skilled and compassionate physician,” he said. “But your why and your community, including your classmates and loved ones supporting you today, will sustain you.”

A version of this story was originally published on the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix website.

A group of new U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix medical students dressed in shirts, ties and dresses, all with medical white coats draped over their arms, stand, smile and show the hand sign for the Arizona Wildcats.
A faculty member at the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix leads his colleagues into the white coat ceremony for incoming medical students.
Three new University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix students, with medical white coats draped over their arms, smile as they stand side by side.
A new University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix student dressed in a shirt and tie smiles as he holds a medical white coat over his arm.
A new University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix student with a medical white coat draped over one arm extends the other arm outward as he smiles and walks onto a stage. Behind him is a U of A banner that reads “Class of 2028.”
A smiling University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix student in a green dress stretches out her arms as a professor puts a medical white coat on her.
A smiling University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix student in a black dress adjusts a medical white coat that is being put on her by a professor.
University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Dean Fred Wondisford presents a stethoscope to a new medical student. Both are wearing white medical coats.
A new University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix student in a brown dress stretches out her arms as a professor puts a medical white coat on her.
A new, male student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix smiles at two female professors on a stage. All are wearing medical white coats.
A University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix staff member hands a book to a new medical student. Both are smiling.
University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Dean Fred Wondisford poses for a photo with a new medical student. Both are wearing white medical coats.
A large group of University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix students stand in their white coats reading from printouts they are holding.
Several family members stand on each side of a University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix student who is wearing a medical white coat and holding flowers. All are smiling.
Two University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix students wearing medical white coats smile as they hug.
Several family members stand on each side of a University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix student who is wearing a medical white coat. All are smiling.