Houston Healthcare’s White Coat Ceremony: “A symbol of entering the world of professional medicine.”

A half-dozen doctors-in-resident were honored with receiving the garment that marks a pivotal point in their journeys toward the ability to independently practice medicine. The “White Coat Ceremony” took place Tuesday evening, June 29 at Houston Healthcare (HHC) in the Cary W. Martin Conference Center and was well-attended by family members and friends of the honorees as well as hospital faculty and associates.

A sense of accomplishment could be felt in the air. Pride could be seen on the faces of parents, grandparents and children. Even members of HHC’s staff—especially those who had walked that same path not long ago and knew the significance of what was about to take place—seemed excited for the new physicians.

In a conversation just before the start of the ceremony, Family Medicine Residency Program Director Dr. La Toya Jackson told Houston Home Journal, “This White Coat ceremony is for our new interns who come in to train with the family medicine residency program. As the program director, I help oversee their training.”

Jackson explained that all of the white coat recipients had not attended school locally; nevertheless, all had completed medical school at accredited universities either in or outside of the United States. In order to be board certified physicians, however, they are required complete a residency training program.

“Every specialty has specific rules that govern their residency training, so for family medicine, it’s three years,” Jackson shared. “During these three years, they’ll touch on different aspects of medicine. Family medicine is a very broad field that includes everything from taking care of mothers and delivering their babies to taking care of kids from birth until they turn 18. So, we take care of children, adults and also the elderly as a part of family medicine.”

Once they are board certified, those who choose the path of family medicine can opt to be a part of a staff of doctors or have their own private practices. They can work in hospitals, community clinics or they can elect to be staffed in a doctor’s office environment. Although they are not known to perform major surgeries, family medicine doctors often carry out minor surgical procedures that fall within their scope of training and expertise.

Services such as health screenings, lifestyle counseling, immunizations, health assessments, routine checkups and even treatment of common chronic conditions are all things that fall within the care that can be offered by a family physician. Outside of hospitals, facilities that offer such services as sports medicine, urgent care and public health are all ones that are frequently staffed by those choosing the path of family medicine.

For a medical student, receiving the white coat is a rite of passage, so to speak. The coat is a symbol of them earning the right to call themselves bona fide doctors. It is indeed an accomplishment worth celebrating, and Tuesday’s affair was one that came with a full course meal in a formal setting.

“This is a happy event—a great celebration for an important time in six young people’s lives, and I’m honored to be a part of it,” remarked HHC President & CEO Charles Brisco. Further, to the interns, he said, “You’re about to go through three years of some trying times. There will be days you’ll want to quit. There will be days you’re going to want to take that stethoscope and throw it through the wall. But please keep perspective on your journey,” Brisco encouraged. “You have worked so hard to be where you are today—making it through undergrad medical school and to now have the opportunity as a resident. Don’t lose perspective on where you are, what you have accomplished and what you will accomplish.”

HHC Vice President and Medical Affairs Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dan Stewart, Jr. served as the guest speaker. As a part of his time at the podium, Stewart told the honorees, “You are here as adult learners, but you’re also here as a significant part of the health care team. The patients you see in the hospital will be your patients, and I expect you to take good, diligent care of them.” He went on to stress, “We will be here—the faculty and fellow residents will be here—to support you and to help you in the process, but they’re your patients, and you will be responsible for them. I expect no less, and I know that you will give me 100% effort at all times.”

Each resident doctor was called to the front of the room and cloaked with their white coat by their respective physician. The six doctors beginning their residency (and their alma maters) were announced as: Tolulope Abe (All Saints School of Medicine – Roseau, Dominica), Thomas Callier (Morehouse School of Medicine – Atlanta, Ga.), Jennifer Heatwole (Trinity School of Medicine – St. Vincent & Grenadines), Christian Martinez (University of Medicine & Health – St. Kitts & Nevis), Ishani Patel (Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Medical Education Trust – India) and Joshua Silverstein (Georgia Campus Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – Suwannee, Ga.).

According to Dr. Jackson, Houston Healthcare only has one residency program, which is family medicine. All those who participated in Tuesday’s ceremony are now considered first-year resident doctors in that field. As far as next steps go, Jackson explained that once the six new doctors have completed with their residency, they will take their family medicine boards. Upon passing, each will then be considered board certified.

“Tonight, they [received] their white coats, and that is a symbol of them entering the world of professional medicine,” Jackson said, adding, “They are now doctors. This is really a big deal.”

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