Fleur-De-Lis Connection Volume 24, Issue 8 | Seite 3

CLASS OF 2018 CONTINUED
year. It would be the portrait that would show who I was. Not even
knowing about this ceremony at the time, I selected a portrait of
myself in a white coat. Truly, a white coat is a part of your profession.”
Dr. Scott explained to the incoming students the historical and
communal significance of GLMS and the GLMS Foundation. “We
are a membership organization and our foundation is completely
derived from donations from physicians. It is the physicians of your
local community who provided your white coats for you today to say
welcome to the profession, welcome to the community and even
more so, welcome to our society.
The ceremony began with an introduction from UofL Associate Vice
President for Health Affairs David Wiegman, Ph.D, who explained the
evolution and history of the white coat itself. Dr. Wiegman hoped to
allow students to better understand the community they’ve joined.
“White is seen universally as a sign of pureness and cleanness,”
he said. “As medicine progressed in the 20th century and became
much more beneficial to the patient, the white coat became more
and more a symbol of both authority and of hope. With this history
and public regard, it’s a true challenge to be worthy of putting on
the white coat.”
“Congratulations on your accomplishments and your successes,”
said UofL School of Medicine Dean Toni Ganzel, MD, MBA, welcoming
the students to the School of Medicine. “We are so glad you chose
to be part of our medical school family. We chose you very carefully,
because we believe each and every one of you is going to be a great
doctor. We believe in you, and we expect you to be the very best you
can be. And we will be the best we can be too, to educate you, inspire
you and support you on your journey to becoming a physician.”
UofL School of Medicine Class of 2017 President Matt Woeste next
gave a short speech assuring the new students that the challenges
before them were not unconquerable. “Take a good look, I am here
in one piece. I made it through my first year of medical school.
Shocking, but it is, in fact, possible. My classmates and I are living
proof that you can and will make it.”
Woeste took students back to the day he was accepted at UofL, the
tears of joy, the nervousness and the challenge which lied ahead.
“Be proud but be thankful you are here. Most of all, remember that
feeling of elation as you read your acceptance. Use it as a source of
humility. It is a memory that may always remind you that you were
chosen to embark on the journey of a lifetime.”

After the ce