White Coat Ceremony | Class of 2030
Friday, August 7, 2026
9:30 a.m — 1 p.m.
Location:
Rowan University
Pfleeger Concert Hall at Wilson Hall
North Campus Drive
Glassboro, NJ
The ceremony will be held indoors, followed by a light reception under a tent outside (weather permitting).
A Family and Friends Orientation session will be held before the White Coat Ceremony at Boyd Recital Hall, 8:00 a.m.- 8:45 a.m. Doug Reifler, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs, will facilitate this session, and Jocelyn Mitchell-Williams, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education, will also participate. Attendees will receive guidance on how to support a medical student during medical school. A panel of current medical students at CMSRU will share their experiences and answer any questions. Students are permitted two (2) guests ONLY to this session (e.g., parent, significant other, or friend).
Guest information must be submitted through the registration link- HERE.
Important Information for Students and Guests
- Each student will receive five (5) tickets during Orientation Week.
- Guests must present a ticket for entry into the theater.
- Students may exchange unused tickets with one another; CMSRU does not manage extra tickets.
Please note: We are exploring the use of electronic tickets. This page will be updated once the process is finalized.
The ceremony will be streamed live on the CMSRU YouTube Channel beginning at 9:30 a.m.
- A professional photographer will capture each student as they are cloaked.
- Photos will be provided free of charge, courtesy of CMSRU.
- Guests are asked to remain seated and not enter aisles during the ceremony.
White Coat Notes
Share a meaningful message with a future physician.
White Coat Notes is a special program that provides incoming medical students with handwritten messages of encouragement as they begin their journey. With a gift of $100 or more, you can write a personal note that will be placed in a student’s white coat pocket prior to the ceremony—serving as a lasting reminder of support on this important day.
Your Impact
All proceeds benefit:
- CMSRU Student Activities Fund: Supports student programming and community outreach initiatives
- SGA Endowed Scholarship Fund: Provides scholarship support to incoming medical students
Your generosity strengthens our students, our community, and the future of medicine.
Purchase your White Coat Notes
Class of 2029 White Coat Ceremony Recap
The Significance of the White Coat
The Arnold P. Gold Foundation established the White Coat Ceremony in 1993. The event has become an iconic ritual emphasizing compassionate, collaborative and scientifically excellent care. At Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU), this rite of passage serves to welcome students to healthcare practice and elevate the value of humanism as the core of healthcare. The most important element of the ceremony is the oath taken in the presence of family members, school leadership, and their peers to acknowledge their obligation of caring for the patient.