In its centennial year the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry welcomes the class of 2029 as the 100th group to begin their medical journey

Rochester, New York – The University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry reached a rare milestone this week, blending a century of history with the bright promise of the future. On August 15, inside the Alumni Advancement Center, the school welcomed the Class of 2029 during its 20th annual Dr. Robert L. & Lillian H. Brent White Coat Ceremony — a day that marked both personal achievement for its students and the official start of the institution’s centennial year.

This incoming group, 104 strong, hails from across the United States and beyond, representing 27 states and 18 countries of origin. Together, they speak 22 languages and bring degrees from 55 colleges and universities in disciplines as varied as engineering, economics, philosophy, mathematics, and computer science. The average age is 23, but their life experiences and aspirations stretch far beyond their years.

As the ceremony began, each student stepped forward to receive a crisp white coat, the most visible emblem of their new journey into medicine. This year’s coats carried something extra — a commemorative pin marking the school’s 100th class — a nod to the first group of students who walked these halls a century ago. From the audience, friends, families, and faculty erupted in cheers, celebrating both the achievement and the moment in history.

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David Lambert, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Medical Student Education, reflected on the link between the past and present. “I’d say thank you because they really forged the way,” Lambert said, imagining what he might tell the school’s very first class. “They would be as proud and happy, as all of our alumni are, that we’re still a great medical school with a research-based institution, owned by a university and continue to teach and embrace the biopsychosocial model which is key to Rochester’s past, present and future.”

The meaning behind the white coat was a recurring theme throughout the ceremony. David C. Linehan, MD, CEO of the University of Rochester Medical Center and Dean of the School of Medicine & Dentistry, urged the students to see the coat as more than a uniform. “The white coat that you receive today is more than just fabric and thread,” Linehan said. “It’s a promise to your patients, colleagues, and to yourself. It symbolizes trust, compassion, and the lifelong pursuit of knowledge. In the years ahead, you’ll learn to listen with empathy, to think with precision, and to act with integrity.”

For fourth-year medical student Alex Schick, the white coat represents lessons learned far beyond textbooks. She reminded the newcomers that medicine is not only about mastering facts or refining technical skills. “Don’t lose sight of the simple but powerful act of being present with someone,” she said. “That’s where the real art of medicine lives.”

The keynote speaker, Natalie Whaley, MD, an associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, explored the coat’s symbolism in both philosophical and practical terms. She spoke about its deep pockets — a place to store tools for the everyday tasks of patient care — and its greater role as a visible signal of authority and advocacy. “The white coat signals our authority in society, our expertise and the responsibility we have to be the voice for patients both inside the exam room and beyond,” Whaley said. “This is what your training will afford you—the expertise and the position to use as an advocate in your workplace, your families, and your communities.”

After crossing the stage, many students paused to take in the weight of the moment. For Ramana Kolady, who is drawn to surgery but remains open to other fields, the day was as much about gratitude as it was about ambition. “It’s definitely exciting and makes me reflect on how privileged I am to be in this position,” Kolady said. “I know we’ve all put a lot of work into getting here but we wouldn’t be here without the support of our family and friends—everybody who helped us along the way. Right now, it’s important for me to reflect on all the people who helped me get here.”

Classmate Tiana Grosskreuz, who is interested in neurology and pediatrics, echoed those feelings. “We’ve been waiting for this day for a long time and we’re just privileged to be here,” she said. “Having the white coat reminds us we can really make a difference in everybody’s lives. The power that comes with that is moving and it’s going to carry us through the next four years.”

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This year’s centennial class finds itself stepping into medicine during a time of rapid change, from evolving healthcare policies to technological breakthroughs that are reshaping how doctors diagnose and treat patients. Yet the traditions at Rochester — including the White Coat Ceremony — serve as a reminder that the essence of medicine still lies in human connection.

The first class at the School of Medicine & Dentistry, back in 1925, could hardly have imagined the modern laboratories, global student body, and advanced research initiatives of today. But Lambert and other faculty members see a direct line from those early students to the Class of 2029: a shared commitment to rigorous science, compassionate care, and service to the community.

As the ceremony concluded, students and families spilled out into the summer evening, taking photographs under banners that read “100 Years of Excellence.” For the Class of 2029, the road ahead will be long, challenging, and transformative. But on this day, their first step into the world of medicine was taken together — in white coats stitched not only with fabric and thread, but with a century of tradition and the collective hopes of all those who came before.