White Coat Ceremony

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.