New Medical School Students Don Their White Coats for the First Time
Incoming students reflect on what this moment means to them
Donning a white coat at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) marked a homecoming for Kofi Asare ‘29, a first-generation student from Ghana, who grew up in New Jersey but attended college out of state.
“It’s the culmination of my prayers and the blessings on the way, not just for myself, but for people who look like me,” Asare says. “Receiving a white coat enables me to show people that going to medical school is possible for anybody. It’s confirmation that I belong and am capable of becoming a physician who can make a positive impact.’’
The White Coat ceremony has been an annual rite of passage for medical students for more than 30 years. RWJMS welcomed 166 students during its July 25 ceremony, which culminated a weeklong orientation. The ceremony is one of several held at Rutgers for students beginning their journeys into the fields of medicine and science.
On Sept. 10, New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) will welcome 174 students during its annual Barbara and Norman Seiden White Coat Ceremony. The Rutgers School of Dental Medicine welcomes students in a white coat ceremony on the same day. The Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy will hold its White Coat Ceremony on Aug. 27.
Asare comes to Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School having earned a bachelor’s degree at Oberlin College in Ohio. After completing his undergraduate studies, he worked as a clinical research coordinator at the University of California, San Francisco.
“Rutgers offers me the opportunity to pursue my passion for caring for others,” says Asare, whose other passion is photography. “Through medicine, you can change the life trajectories of your patients. It’s a way to educate and connect to my community. The school is dedicated to cultivating physicians who understand cultural competencies, and the opportunity to serve my home state and the greater New Brunswick-Piscataway area is very fulfilling. Everyone deserves compassionate care.”
While he’s attracted to the fields of psychiatry and pediatrics, Asare is keeping an open mind. He’s looking forward to making new friends, catching a few NBA games and attending concerts when he’s not studying.
That Scarlet Spirit
For California native Lauren Markus, wearing a white coat at Rutgers means becoming part of a thriving community that truly bleeds scarlet.
“What set Rutgers apart was the spirit on campus,” Markus explains. “I came from UCLA, a very big college with lots of school spirit. I felt a similar atmosphere on George Street, seeing all the ‘R’ posters and meeting people who are proud to be a part of Rutgers. It felt like a welcoming family.”
Markus first considered a future in medicine in first grade, when her aptitude for science sparked an interest in becoming a pediatrician. After volunteering at a hospital and working in a research lab at UCLA, she’s leaning toward internal medicine to develop a broad knowledge base to apply to developing clinical trials. A travel enthusiast who celebrated earning her undergraduate degree with a trip to Thailand, Markus enjoys indoor rock climbing, baking, reading and writing. In fact, she self-published a fantasy adventure novel during the COVID-19 pandemic and has another work in progress. She’s looking forward to exploring the East Coast while she’s here.
When it comes to putting on the white coat, Markus says, “All the hard work and all my dreams have led to this one moment, which is exciting. It’s also scary because it means I’m taking on the huge responsibility of caring for patients, leading the medical team, and learning everything there’s to know about the human body, while promising to use that knowledge for the greater good. The fact that I’ll be doing it with 170 of my peers makes it much less daunting.”
Applying Passion to Practice
Asha Patel, of Hillsborough, N.J., comes to Rutgers after earning an undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis. She spent her gap year working at Zufall Health Center in Morristown through the AmeriCorps program.
“I always had an innate curiosity in science,” she says about pursuing a career in medicine. “In undergrad, I was fortunate to explore more deeply what a career in medicine would look like. That’s when I decided to dedicate myself to medicine.”
During school, Patel volunteered with hospice patients and provided wellness resources to patients in health clinics. While her degree is in neuroscience, shadowing maternal-fetal medicine specialists incited an interest in primary care, particularly OB/GYN or pediatrics.
“I’m interested in primary care, where it’s easier to form longer connections with patients,” she explains.
Attending medical school at Rutgers was attractive because she’s closer to her support system, but it goes beyond just being home.
“Community work is important to me, whether in St. Louis or with AmeriCorps,” explains Patel, who is trained in classic Indian dance. “When I visited Rutgers, I saw how genuinely happy students were and how close they were to each other, the community and their mentors. That closeness and interconnectedness made me feel that I needed to go here.”
Patel said having the white coat placed on her shoulders represents her hard work—and hope for the future.
“It symbolizes my dedication to achieving this lifelong goal. It represents the journey I’m embarking on, and my commitment to connect with patients and show compassion,” Patel says. “I’m excited to see how my class grows throughout med school, and how we apply our unique interests and passions to the field of medicine.”
This year, for the first time in 20 years, both Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and New Jersey Medical School began orientation week for new students on the same day, Monday, July 21, with the White Coat ceremony held subsequently. Both sites are working toward one integrated medical school with two premier campus sites, the future Rutgers School of Medicine. From their first white coat to their graduation robe, new Rutgers medical students are excited for the journey.
