One of the best kept secrets in Caribbean Medical Schools | Trinity School of Medicine | white coat ceremony

 
Last week, Trinity School of Medicine held the white coat ceremony for its May 2018 students at the school's campus in St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

The white coat ceremony, a tradition started at the University of Chicago 30 years ago that has since spread across the United States and Canada, is an induction into medical professional schools. As it effectively celebrates admission into medical school and it book-ends the experience with a student's eventual graduation, the white coat ceremony is an exciting day for all involved. Guests to the day's event included Sir Frederick Ballantyne, Governor General of St. Vincent; Hon. Luke Browne, Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment; members of the Trinity board of directors, faculty, and staff, as well as families and friends of the incoming class. Read on to see photos, hear about speakers, and learn what you can expect at your own white coat ceremony.

Last week, first term student Eric Pierce was named Trinity School of Medicine's Chancellor’s Scholarship recipient for the September 2017 class.

For some context, the Chancellor's Scholarship is a merit based award open to select recipients of Trinity's Physician, Dean, and President awards. Candidates meeting the academic criteria are invited to write on a topic selected by the faculty. The winner's award ($2,000, $2,500, or $3,000 per term, depending on their initial scholarship), is increased to $5,000 per term. In total, this one scholarship covers nearly 40% of of Trinity's total tuition for the recipient.

We spoke with Eric and Dr. Skelton to discuss the selection process, the sense of responsibility that comes with winning, and what that means for Trinity students and faculty alike.

This Saturday, September 2nd, Trinity's largest class to date formally became a part of the student body of Trinity School of Medicine at a ceremony held at the nearby Faith Temple Church. 

The Trinity School of Medicine 2017 May-term white coat ceremony was held on campus last week. Guests included the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Frederick Ballantyne, members of Trinity’s board of trustees, family and friends of the newly matriculated medical students, and faculty and staff.

On Saturday, 7^th January, 2017, Trinity School of Medicine's January incoming students donned their first white coats at a ceremony held at the school in Ratho Mill, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Dignitaries included Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and other community officials.The first rows look on as their fellow students move through the ceremony

On Saturday, September 3rd, sixty-five new Trinity School of Medicine students received their white coats at a ceremony held at Faith Temple Church at New Montrose, St. Vincent. According to Dr. Frances Jack-Edwards, associate dean of admissions and student affairs, placing those white coats represented Trinity’s confidence in its students’ ability to make a worthwhile contribution to the practice of medicine. 

Below: Trinity Faculty on stage waiting for the new students. L-R: Dr. Frances Jack-Edwards, MD; Dr. Jamil Ibrahim, MD; Binu Shrestha, MBBS, MD; Dr. Mignonette Relatado-Sotto, MD; and Conrad Nedd, MD

 Trinity School of Medicine recently held its May term white coat ceremony earlier this month at the main campus on St. Vincent in front of an audience of friends, family, faculty, and local medical VIPs.

On Saturday, September 5th, seventy-five MD students and twelve pre-medical students participated in the Trinity School of Medicine Class of 2019 White Coat Ceremony. 

Dr. Douglas Skelton, chancellor and dean, presided over the ceremony of matriculants from Emory, Virginia Tech, Cal. State University, Xavier, U. Conn. U. Guelph, U. Western Ontario, and many other schools across the US and Canada, all selected for their passion for medicine and desire for an intimate, practical learning environment.