Penn State White Coat Ceremony

Today was the white coat ceremony for the Penn State College of Medicine. We gathered at the Hershey Theatre (a very posh venue!) and received our white coats and recited the Hippocratic Oath (a pledge to serve the greater good that is taken by all incoming medical students at all schools). I have pasted the full text of the oath below the pictures.








The Oath of Modern Hippocrates

By all that I hold highest,
I promise my patients competence, integrity, candor,
personal commitment to their best interest,
compassion, and absolute discretion and confidentiality within the law.

I shall do by my patients as I would be done by;
shall obtain consultation whenever I or they desire,
shall include them to the extent they wish in all important decisions,
and shall minimize suffering whenever a cure cannot be obtained,
understanding that a dignified death is an important goal in everyone's life.

I shall try to establish a friendly relationship with my patients
and shall accept each one in a nonjudgmental manner,
appreciating the validity and worth of different value systems
and according to each person a full measure of human dignity.

I shall charge only for my professional services,
and shall not profit financially in any other way,
as a result of the advice and care I render my patients.

I shall provide advice and encouragement for my patients in their efforts to sustain their own health.
I shall work with my profession to improve the quality of medical care
and to improve the public health,
but I shall not let any lesser public or professional consideration
interfere with my primary commitment to provide the best and most appropriate care available
to each of my patients.

To the extent that I live by these precepts,
I shall be a worthy physician.