M . D . Class of 2028 White Coat Ceremony
It is a College of Medicine tradition to have one of our M . D . alumni deliver the keynote address at the White Coat Ceremony , held after the new M . D . students complete their first semester and welcoming them to the medical profession . The keynote speaker for the M . D . Class of 2028 ’ s ceremony Aug . 2 was Shlermine “ Shea ” Aupont Everidge , M . D ., Class 2016 .
Last year , Everidge became the Big Bend region ’ s first fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist after completing a one-year fellowship at the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston . It accepts only four physicians each year . She had previously completed her residency in general surgery at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare , where she now practices , and she also joined the clerkship faculty at the College of Medicine ’ s Tallahassee Regional Campus .
Everidge shared several lessons she has learned in her journey , beginning with perseverance , hard work and compassion from her mother , a Haitian immigrant single mom of four who also taught her to dream . Her mother was in attendance for her speech ; “ it never stops ," the speaker said . ” The support never stops ."
Shlermine “ Shea ” Aupont Everidge , M . D .
“ The white coat you are about to wear is more than a garment ; it is a symbol of trust . Patients will look to you for guidance and reassurance during the most vulnerable moments of their lives ," Everidge said . " This coat represents your commitment to uphold the highest standards of medical ethics , to practice with integrity , and to show empathy and compassion in every patient interaction .”
Earlier in the ceremony , 12 members of the M . D . Class of 2025 were inducted into the FSU Chapman Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society for embodying “ the service calling of medicine .” Dean Alma Littles , M . D ., told the first-year students the inductees are “ an example of what we hope you will strive for .”
Membership in GHHS is limited to 10-15 % of each graduating class .
Associate Professor Ewa ( Ava ) Bienkiewicz coats William “ Will ” Cotter .
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