The most recent PhD white coat recipients from the Class of 2022-2023 pose for a group photo in the Jacobs School building atrium.

PhD White Coat Ceremony Honors Student Advancement

By Dirk Hoffman

Published June 13, 2023

The Office of Biomedical Education conducted its seventh annual white coat ceremony to recognize 23 students from the Class of 2022-2023 in the PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PPBS) and two students from the MD-PhD Program who are matching to their doctoral laboratories.

“While your lab coat serves a functional purpose, it is also a symbol of trust, professionalism and education. ”
UB’s vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
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Senior Associate Dean Encourages Students

John C. Panepinto, PhD, senior associate dean for biomedical education and professor of microbiology and immunology, offered opening remarks at the ceremony.

“Back at orientation in August, I said the primary goal of what we are doing is twofold: how to do science and to learn how to be a scientist, and those are two very different things,” he told the students.

“As you enter into your laboratories, you are going to be focused on the work and the questions, but I encourage you to not to forget to turn around,” Panepinto added. “You will be looking in at your projects, but turn around and look out. Look at the world and ask yourself ‘what can I do to make it better?’ So, I encourage you to hang onto that and keep the fire in the belly going.”

Student Excellence in Class and Lab Recognized

Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, UB’s vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, also congratulated the students on their accomplishments.

“For you PhD biosciences students, receiving your lab coat symbolizes a transition from learning in a classroom setting to becoming true scientists in the laboratory,” she said.

“While your lab coat serves a functional purpose, it is also a symbol of trust, professionalism and education.”

Brashear also handed out two awards that were presented by Laboratory Product Sales (LPS), one of the sponsors of the white coat ceremony.

LPS vice president Frank Meleca, Allison Brashear and Caleb Buerger.

Caleb Buerger, far right, is presented with the LPS Academic Achievement Award by Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, center, while LPS vice president Frank Meleca looks on.

Caleb Buerger won the Academic Achievement Award, which is presented to a PPBS student who demonstrates mastery of the first-year course curriculum.

He is matching into the laboratory of Elizabeth A. Wohlfert, PhD, for a PhD in microbiology and immunology.

Patrick Oduro accepts an award from Allison Brashear.

The LPS Rotation Award is presented to Patrick Oduro by Allison Brashear, MD, MBA.

The Rotation Award is presented to a PPBS student nominated by a faculty mentor for outstanding research during a laboratory rotation. 

It was presented to Patrick Oduro, who is matching to the labs of Thomas D. Grant, PhD, and Michael G. Malkowski, PhD, for a PhD in structural biology.

Students Match into Research Laboratories

Andrew M. Gulick, PhD, professor of structural biology and director of the PPBS program, announced the students’ names for the cloaking ceremony.

He also reminded students “that a great way to serve your interdisciplinary education is to stay in touch with your peers, go to people’s talks, look at their posters and papers. That is a good way to not only scientifically broaden your experience, but also further your education.”

The PPBS students are listed below, with their department and mentor matches.

Student Department Mentor
Anagha Betadpur 
Microbiology and Immunology
Elsa Bou Ghanem, PhD
Sheta Biswas
Oral Biology 
Jill M. Kramer, DDS, PhD
Caleb Buerger 
Microbiology and Immunology
Elizabeth A. Wohlfert, PhD
Elizabeth Castro 
Neuroscience
Barry S. Willer, PhD
Sarah Muldoon, PhD
Musea Chang
Microbiology and Immunology
Roberto Pili, MD
Jazmin Corral 
Pharmacology and Toxicology Pablo M. Paez, PhD
Rhonda Drewes 
Computational Cell Biology, Anatomy & Pathology
Yongho Bae, PhD
Sandy Enriquez
Biochemistry
Xiuqian Mu, MD, PhD
Mercedes Fisk 
Structural Biology
Andrew M. Gulick, PhD
Julia Furfaro 
Microbiology and Immunology John C. Panepinto, PhD
Karissa Garbarini 
Neuroscience
Pablo M. Paez, PhD
Ephraim Gardner
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Remi M.Adelaiye-Ogala, PhD
Arthur Germakovski
Pharmaceutical Sciences Jason A. Sprowl, PhD
Luke Graser

Pharmacology and Toxicology

 

John M. Canty Jr., MD
Meagan Hutchinson
Neuroscience
Arin Bhattacharjee, PhD
Eliana Kenner 
Neuroscience

Jian Feng, PhD
Maia Mazzaferro 
Microbiology and Immunology
John C. Panepinto, PhD
Eric Mendelson 
Microbiology and Immunology
Elizabeth A. Wohlfert, PhD
Thomas Mousso 
Computational Cell Biology, Anatomy & Pathology
Yongho Bae, PhD
Hope Nyarady 
Neuroscience
Thomas J. Covey, PhD
Patrick Oduro 
Structural Biology

Thomas D. Grant, PhD

Michael G. Malkowski, PhD

Sabrina Orsi
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Roberto Pili, MD
Mikennah Paddock 
Neuroscience
Fraser J. Sim, PhD
Lucas Palmer 
Microbiology and Immunology
Ira J. Blader, PhD
Pooja Shah 
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Joyce Ohm, PhD

 

 

Mentoring, Financial Support Provided

The PPBS provides an entry portal and a common first-year curriculum, mentoring, hands-on opportunities and financial support.

With its laboratory rotation system, students can explore a variety of disciplines before committing to their specific area of research.

The white coat ceremony was conducted May 25 in the Ronald I. Dozoretz, MD ’62 Auditorium at the Jacobs School building. A brief reception in the building’s atrium followed the ceremony.