Hosted in the Mitchell and Kenyon Cinema on the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) campus, the event commemorated new students’ official entrance into medical school and recognized continuing students’ outstanding academic achievements.
Dr. Andy Ginty, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, UKT, welcomed attendees and encouraged new students to consider the values and qualities that physicians must possess in order to provide excellent patient care. Among others, he emphasized that teamwork, determination and commitment will be integral to students’ success at AUC, and that physicians must never lose sight of the humanity in medicine.
“Today you commit to define patients not by their illness, but as people,” Dr. Ginty said in his welcome remarks.
Students donned their short white coats as a symbol of bestowed trust to carry on the tradition of doctoring, and later recited the Physician’s Oath together, led by Dr. Ian Scobie, Assistant Clinical Dean, UKT. Dr. Steve Ash, Associate Clinical Dean, UK, and Maritza Lozano, clinical student at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, UK, addressed students as featured speakers for the event.
In her remarks, Maritza discussed the importance of “remembering your why” throughout the medical school journey, supporting your classmates, and taking care of yourself. She noted that her own reasons for pursuing medicine as a career have expanded as she’s progressed onto her clinical years, and that the white coat is a meaningful symbol for students as they embark on their medical education.
“A white coat can have so many meanings. In my opinion, it’s about healing, helping and doing no harm. When you put on your white coat for the first time, you’re one step closer to that,” said Maritza. “May you use [your white coat] as a tool for learning and teaching, to be open to different perspectives and backgrounds, and just plain and simple, to do better.”
Recognizing Academic Achievements
After new students donned their white coats and recited the Physician’s Oath, the Celebration of Academic Excellence began. Recipients of peer tutoring awards, faculty appreciation awards, student engagement awards, awards for clinical excellence, Dean’s List honors, and Honour & Service Society inductees were all recognized during the event.
Dean’s List
Semester 1
Haditya Behl
Vanisa Ezukuse
Abishak Govindarajan
Shelby Hamilton
Ghraer McKinney
Erika Shaw
Mustafa Tahir
Christine Wang
Fengju Xun
Semester 2
Jennifer McDonald
Anjolaoluwa Oyebola
Ramsha Rehan
K. Jade Robinson
Lana Tarraf Koujock
Semester 3
Emmanuel Atsivor
Ebere Ude
Xiyuan Yang
Semester 4
Haris Ahmad
Husnain Ali
Alana Alvarez-Amado
Muzi Meng
Tutor Recognition
Semester 1
Vanisa Ezukuse – Histology/Embryology
Abishak Govindarajan – MCB I
Shelby Hamilton – Histology/Embryology
Ghraer McKinney – Anatomy
Emma Elizabeth Read – Histology/Embryology
Erika Shaw – Anatomy/MCB I
Mustafa Tahir – Anatomy
Fengju Xun – MCB I
Semester 2
Jennifer McDonald – Immunology
Anjolaoluwa Ayomikun Oyebola – Immunology
Semester 3
Emmanuel Anane Atsivor – Pathology I
Haris Ahmad – Med Micro
Xiyuan Yang – Pathology I
Semester 4
Husnain Ali – Med Pharmacology
Senior Student Tutor: Alana Victoria Alvarez-Amado
Faculty Tutoring Coordinator: Dr. Abass Alhassan
Semester Course Awards
Semester 1
Emma Read – ICM I
Erika Shaw – Anatomy and MCB I
Vanisa Ezukuse – Histology/Embryology
Semester 2
Lavanya Raghav – ICM 2
K. Jade Robinson – MCB II
Lana Tarraf Koujock – Physiology I
Anjolaoluwa Ayomikun Oyebola – Immunology
Semester 3
Milton Mihalcioiu – Introduction to Clinical Medicine III
Mustafa Ali – Physiology II
Amal Razzak Hossain – Pathology I
Ebere Ude – Medical Microbiology
Semester 4
Nezira Akobi – Introduction to Clinical Medicine IV
Haris Ahmad – Neuroscience
Haris Ahmad – Pathology II
Anjolaoluwa Ogunsina – Medical Pharmacology
Semester 5
Jae Lee – Behavioural Science
Honour & Service Society Inductees
Alana Alvarez-Amado
Muzi Meng
Husnain Ali
Faculty Appreciation Awards
Semester 1
Dr. Gargi Soni
Semester 2
Dr. Vaishali Khatri
Semester 3
Dr. Blessing Anonye
Semester 4
Dr. Mazin Al-Salini
Outstanding Colleague Award
Dr. Sue Jamieson
The following awards were also presented after having been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic:
Semester 1 Award, Fall 2020
Dr. Abass Alhassan
Semester 2 Award, Spring 2020
Dr. Sirina Muntaka
Watch a recording of the UK Track White Coat Ceremony & Celebration of Academic Excellence here >>
