Residents Don Long White Coats, Embark on Training

The 11th annual Resident Long White Coat Ceremony — sponsored by the Office of Graduate Medical Education (GME), UB’s Richard T. Sarkin, MD, Medical Emeritus Faculty Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) and the Arnold P. Gold Foundation — celebrated the transition from students to doctors for the new residents.

While welcoming the new residents and room full of their family and friends, Gregory S. Cherr, MD, senior associate dean for graduate medical education, recounted some of the past week’s events and festivities that helped the new trainees get to know each other, their community, and their neighbors.

“As new residents and fellows, you are starting to get to know each other and be part of the community of physicians in Western New York, but you’re also starting to get to know the community because you all are part of our community now,” he said. “We’re the City of Good Neighbors, and you’re getting to know your neighbors.”

Cherr also shared the GME’s new slogan: “Good neighbors make good doctors.”

He reminded the residents that the long white coat is a representation of the professions of medicine and dentistry and that their success will come only with the success of others.

“You won’t succeed alone. You’ll only succeed as part of a thriving, well-run team and that means trusting the people on your team and being trustworthy. And all of that’s embodied in the long white coat.”

This year’s class of new residents hail from 19 different countries and range in age from 24 to 47. Fifty-seven percent of the trainee class are women.

Forty-six of the 207 new residents who took part in the ceremony graduated from the Jacobs School’s medical education program. Twelve of the residents graduated from UB’s School of Dental Medicine.

In all, there are 271 incoming trainees who are new to UB residency or fellowship.

During her address and welcome to the new residents, Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, UB’s vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School, emphasized one of UB’s and the Jacobs School’s fundamental goals: to transform the health of Western New York through patient-centered care.

She described how New York State has been a powerhouse for medical training, with 77 percent of New York physicians having completed their training in the state.

“Regardless of whether you graduated from the Jacobs School or you’re new to the area, we would all like you to consider growing your roots here,” she said. “We want to have more doctors in our community.”

She stressed to the residents that, with any challenges ahead, they shouldn’t hesitate to reach out for help and insight from the Jacobs School’s faculty and staff focused on resident success. “They get up every day to make sure that you are successful, you achieve your goals, and that we transform the health of patients in this community.”

Traditionally, senior faculty members coat new residents. But this year’s ceremony carried on the new tradition whereby residents coat each other, symbolizing peer support and a shared commitment to medicine.

“As colleagues beginning this journey together, coating each other represents your shared commitment to the noble tradition of doctoring,” said Susan M. Orrange, PhD, assistant dean for education and resident services. “We know how important the peer relationship is, and we are here to celebrate that this morning.”

“Let the coating begin,” Orrange proclaimed to the clamor of new trainees turning to each other, stretching out arms, putting on new white coats and big smiles.

Peter S. Martin, MD, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry led the residents in reciting the Buffalo Long White Coat Ceremony Oath, instilling their dedication to patients, compassion, integrity, their colleagues, and to themselves.

Before beginning the oath, Martin pointed out that, amid the throng of new white coats, he wasn’t wearing one — but symbolically, he always has it on. 

“For better or for worse, this is not a job, this is a profession. You are always a doctor.”