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White Coat Notes


An inspiring tradition
Sponsor a WHITE COAT NOTE for a new CMSRU student!

The White Coat Ceremony is a tradition in which first-year students receive their first short white coat of their medical school career. The White Coat, a symbol of the medical profession for more than 100 years, signifies the student’s commitment to the practice of medicine and the patient-physician relationship.

The White Coat Ceremony was founded in 1993 by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, which concluded that the beginning of a student’s journey into medicine is the best time to influence standards of professionalism, humanistic values and behavior. At the close of the event, the students recite the Hippocratic Oath together, pledging their commitment to their profession and to the health of the patients they will serve.

The Importance of White Coat Notes

White Coat Notes offer that special type of inspiration to our new medical students. These Notes are a warm welcome, words of encouragement, sage wisdom, and honest advice. Notes will be placed in the pockets of our students’ new white jackets before they put their white coats on for the first time at the White Coat Ceremony. Through the purchase of a Note, you can participate in this meaningful program for your favorite medical student, and these Notes help raise money specifically to support Student Activities at CMSRU and the SGA Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Another highlight of the White Coat Ceremony will be a welcome from the Medical Staff of Cooper Hospital. The Medical Staff will present a Stethoscope to each member of the Class. This special gift to each future physician is proudly given from our current physician leaders in support of and encouragement for our students’ journeys of lifelong learning. The combination of White Coats and Stethoscopes is symbolic of the professionalism that is expected of students during medical school and as physicians. This truly is a day to celebrate our future.

Purchasing a White Coat Note

To Purchase a White Coat Note, please:

  • Click HERE to make your gift online.
  • Please complete a separate form for each White Coat Note you want to purchase. Each Note is $100.
  • If you would like to choose from the White Coat Sample Notes, please click on the link and specify the number of the Note you would like. Otherwise, please type in your Note; there is a 100 word limit.  
  • All Notes must be shared electronically; we will complete your formal Note(s) for you.
  • All notes must be received before August 7, 2024.
  • If you have any questions, please get in touch with Felicia Gordon Riehman at riehman@rowan.edu or 856.361.2845.

Thank you for supporting our students and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. All CMSRU White Coat Notes proceeds help support The SGA Endowed Scholarship Fund and Student Activities.

Learn More

Are you interested in supporting the CMSRU White Coat Notes program which will benefit Student Activities at CMSRU and the SGA Endowed Scholarship Fund?

Click here to make a gift to Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU) today.


To learn more, please contact:

Felicia Gordon Riehman
Director of Development
riehman@rowan.edu
856.361.2845