Louisville Medicine Volume 65, Issue 4 | Page 16

FEATURE THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE HOSTS the Class of 2021 White Coat Ceremony Aaron Burch I f you walked into the Crowne Plaza Expo Center on Sunday, July 30, you would have seen dozens of anxious young adults preparing for their very own white coat. Dressed in their Sunday best with white coats in hand, these young men and women were set to join the University of Louisville School of Medicine as the Class of 2021. As the clock struck 3 p.m., esteemed physicians led by Dean Toni Ganzel took the stage. Then came the students, all 161 of them, filing in to the sounds of a small brass ensemble. Once everyone was in place, the doctors-to-be sat in unison as Dr. Ganzel took the podium. “What a great day,” she said. “I join my colleagues in welcoming the class of 2021. Congratulations on all your success in getting here.” Jacob Hoerter, President of the School of Medicine Class of 2020, 14 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE was one of the most impactful speakers of the afternoon, saying “Today marks the beginning of a daunting and thrilling adventure. The path you’ve chosen is beautiful but the terrain is uneven and often treacherous.” Hoerter encouraged the students to remember to bring five es- sential things on their journey: their brain, hobbies, heart, friends and their white coat. “My white coat is a reminder of who I am, where I’ve been and where I’ll go,” he said. “It humbles me with memories of my failures but it inspires me with whispers of the doctor I’ll be.” Dr. Stephen Wheeler, Senior Faculty for Resident Education and Associate Dean of Admissions, gave the Keynote Address, encour- aging students to wear their white coats with reverence. “When you