The Next Generation Gets its White Coats and Begins the Journey

When Edward Harris ‘26OD was a youngster, he witnessed a girl fall on the playground. His elementary school teacher as the time said to him, “Go inside and get her a Band-Aid.” Dutifully following his teacher’s instructions, he did just that, found a Band-Aid and gave it to the girl.

And, from that moment on, Harris wanted to be a doctor. At first, he thought being a pediatrician was what he wanted to pursue. But as he became older, he discovered optometry.

“I never knew what an optometrist was, although I had been wearing glasses since I was five years old,” he said. “So, I started looking into it. I always had great experiences when I was at the eye doctor, and I just fell in love with the profession."

Harris was among the 392 students at Salus University who are one step closer to their dreams after receiving their white coats (336 participated) in a ceremony Aug. 19, 2022, at the Hafter Student Community Center on the Elkins Park, Pennsylvania campus of Salus University.

There were three white coat ceremonies that day for students in Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, Orthotics and Prosthetics, Speech-Language Pathology, Traditional Optometry, Clinical Optometry, Accelerated Scholars Optometry and Audiology programs.

Morgan Gianelle ‘24PA was a student actor in undergraduate school, so all the hubbub surrounding the white coat ceremonies “wasn’t so crazy” for her at all. “Once you put on the white coat, people will look at you differently,” said Gianelle. “Granted, you have to take on a responsibility now that people are looking at you differently. So honestly, it feels empowering to be able to participate in this ceremony.”

Dr. William Roberts, senior vice president, Academic Operations, at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), in Bethesda, Maryland, was the keynote speaker for all three ceremonies. Dr. Roberts charged the students to focus on two specific areas as they move forward: teamwork and the team; and their sense of duty. He said nowhere is the old adage “Working together works” more applicable than it is to those who have chosen to pursue, and been accepted into, the health sciences professions to work together as a team on behalf of the patient. “Working together is fun, and instills in all – including the patient – the sense that we all have something to contribute,” said Dr. Roberts. “Our patient, for whom we have pledged to care, is better for our collaboration.”

The second area he asked students to focus on was duty, not only their duty to the patient but to the team as well. “Your patient will share with you facts and confidences that they may be reluctant to share with anyone else,” said Dr. Roberts. “You need to find this sobering and humbling, and indeed sacred, and you must always implore that shared information selflessly, non-judgmentally and direct support of the expertise, treatment and care that human being who trusts you and has been entrusted to you.”

Salus president Michael H. Mittelman, OD ’80, MPH, MBA, FAAO, FACHE, told the students that once they leave Salus, they will have the tools to practice proficiently. “You will become the leaders of your profession. So, as the American healthcare system starts to change, you will be key influencers of what that looks like down the road,” said Dr. Mittelman. “Now what we need is for you to work hard, study, pass your boards and become the best healthcare professionals that you can be.”

For Maram Chokr ‘26AUD walking across the stage to receive her white coat was so strange that she could hardly believe it was happening to her. “It felt very rewarding,” she said. “I’m really excited to meet new people and make friends so that we can study together and have this whole adventure together to become the best doctors we can be.”

Chokr also offered a little advice to her classmates. “Do not give up, no matter how challenging things get because it will all work out in the end,” she said. “As long as your heart is in it and you keep trying your best, everything is going to work out.”