White Coat Ceremony: Five Times the Emotion and Excitement

As students recited the Oath to Professionalism, Tina Levitt, DDS, mouthed the words of the oath along with the Salus University students at the fall 2021 White Coat ceremony on Friday afternoon. 

Her daughter, Alexandra Levitt ‘25AUD, told her mother beforehand other healthcare professionals would be invited to recite the oath along with the students. 

“It was so long ago for me that we didn’t have a White Coat ceremony. So, I found it extremely special and it brought back a lot of memories,” said Tina Levitt, a resident of Haddonfield, New Jersey, who is now retired. “It makes me want healthcare to go back to the basics, go back to the trueness and always putting the patient first.” 

Dad Steve Levitt watched and took some videos as his wife recited along with his daughter, and it turned out to be packed with the emotion one might expect from the moment. “It made me smile, it made me happy, and of course it made me cry. When you have all those good emotions all in one day, that’s a great day,” he said. 

It was indeed a special day for students, parents and their families alike. The annual White Coat ceremony, which capped off Orientation Week at the University, had a bit of a twist this year. Because there was no face-to-face ceremony last year due to COVID-19 protocols, this year’s event featured five separate White Coat ceremonies over a two-day period Aug. 19-20. 

Leading off the festivities on Aug. 19 was the ceremony for the Doctor of Audiology — Accelerated Program Class of 2023, the Doctor of Audiology Class of 2024 and the Doctor of Optometry — Advanced Placement, Traditional and Scholars Program Class of 2024, the classes who had an online ceremony with their individual programs last year. 

“It was a bummer not having an (in-person) ceremony last year, but I think the University did a pretty good job at least getting us something,” said Sierra Niesen ‘24AUD. 

“We were able to be on Zoom and they did everything that they usually do. It was an acknowledgment. But to actually physically get coated, I don’t think that can get replaced.”

Niesen added that being able to celebrate face-to-face, especially with classmates who are now considered friends and family a year later, was special. 

That specialness certainly wasn’t lost on the parents who attended the ceremony. John and Colleen Thomas, who traveled from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to see their son Nicholas Thomas ‘24OD, get “cloaked” with his white coat, experienced pride at seeing their son advance his career.

“First of all, we can’t believe we’re here at this point because it seems like he was just so young not too long ago,” said Colleen Thomas. “He’s worked very hard, it’s well-earned and he deserves it. It was a very touching moment. I couldn’t be prouder. It was something I’ll remember for my whole life.” 

Kayla Hawkins ‘24OD, whose parents traveled from Detroit to see her don her white coat and who had additional family and friends tuning into the livestream of the event, said the virtual ceremony last year was nice, but there was nothing like getting the white coat in a face-to-face celebration. 

“It was quite an experience. Like they said during the program, the first year is very intense, so I feel like at this point, I have really earned the coat,” said Hawkins. “Although it was a year later, it meant even more because I had already finished one year and had accomplished something.”

Once the do-over was completed for last year’s first-year students (now second-year students in their respective programs), the second-day ceremonies were much of the same for students and parents, albeit tailored somewhat for each different program. 

Kiran Beharie and his wife Charmaine left at 4 a.m. Friday, Aug. 20, and drove through some pretty inclement weather to see their son, Shale Beharie ‘24OD, student in the three-year Doctor of Optometry Accelerated Scholars program, receive his white coat.

“We were definitely overwhelmed and very excited,” said Kiran Beharie. “The weather was very bad, but the end result was very good.” 

“We felt an enormous sense of pride,” said Charmaine Beharie. “I’m glad our son has settled on something that he likes. We are a family that uses glasses, so that’s going to be wonderful for us.” 

Salus president Michael Mittelman, OD ‘80, MPH, MBA, FAAO, FACHE, delivered the keynote address at all five ceremonies, tailoring his remarks for each program. But his overall message to the students remained consistent: being a healthcare professional is a privilege and from this point forward, students will be held to a higher standard; be empathetic and learn to listen to the patients while treating them with dignity and respect; be true to what you care about and put the patient at the center of everything you do. 

“You are about to embark on a course that will make you leaders in your chosen professions,” said Dr. Mittelman. “Use this time wisely and judiciously, but also have fun and enjoy yourself. You’re about to become part of a very privileged group of people — those who put the needs of others ahead of themselves through caring and curing.” 

The ceremony itself and the words spoken resonated with many of the students. 

“It was really inspiring to hear Dr. Mittelman’s words and experience the whole process,” said Weilong Li ‘23PA, of Chicago. “It’s a little strange to feel like putting on the white coat changes you, but it still felt like I was taking that first step into being in school and becoming a professional. I felt very inspired by what everyone said.” 

Aaron Brown ‘23OT, described how even getting to this point has been a process for him, and said that the White Coat was a sign that really sealed his career decision. 

“It really is fulfilling already, even though I have yet to put in all the work that’s ahead of me,” he said. “I’m really excited for the experiences that will help me to decide exactly what I want to do. My ultimate dream is to do something with the community to help underprivileged people who don’t even know about occupational therapy. Hopefully I can bring that into certain communities and help other people also have better lives and enjoy the things they like to do.” 

Describing the ceremony as “amazing,” Antonina Disco ‘23SLP, of Harleysville, Pennsylvania, was pumped to get back to work. 

“Being an emerging professional is exciting and I can’t wait to get out into the field and start practicing what I’ve been waiting to practice and applying what I learned so far,” she said. “It was really exciting to watch all my classmates that I’ve been with all week get our coats.”