The white coat signifies the excellence and caring demanded of individuals entering the health care professions. On Aug. 9, 2014, 372 Des Moines University clinical students accepted their white coats and the responsibilities they symbolize at the University’s annual White Coat Ceremony at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines.
This ceremony was initiated at DMU in 1997 to encourage professionalism, scientific excellence and compassionate health care. Students don the white jacket as a class and then are recognized individually by DMU President Angela Walker Franklin, Ph.D., their college deans and faculty. The coats are provided as gifts of DMU alumni, other donors and the Iowa Medical Society.
This year, 214 osteopathic medical students; 54 podiatric medicine and surgery students; 52 physician assistant students; and 52 physical therapy students participated in the ceremony. As part of this annual tradition, they also signed the University’s Professional Integrity Code to pledge their commitment to the values of honesty, accountability, collaboration and inclusiveness.
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Des Moines University (DMU) is the only private medical school in Iowa, offering graduate-level, professional degree programs in osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, biomedical sciences, anatomy, health care administration and public health. Founded in 1898, the institution offers superior academics in a collaborative environment. DMU students’ pass rate on national examinations and board certifications is consistently higher than the national average and the rates at similar institutions.
