The Saint Louis University School of Medicine held its annual White Coat Ceremony on July 28 at St. Francis Xavier College Church in St. Louis, marking the official start of medical training for the Class of 2028.
Jacobs, reflecting on her own experience as a medical student, advised newcomers about the challenges ahead. “There will be days when the academic rigor and workload will make you want to give up,” she said. However, Jacobs assured students that as they progress, their understanding of medical knowledge will deepen and become relevant through patient experiences.
Tina Chen, M.D., associate dean of simulation and clinical skills, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the diversity of patients students will encounter. “Stable and dying. Young and old. Wealthy and impoverished,” she remarked. Chen highlighted the importance of generosity, knowledge, time, and understanding in treating patients.
The ceremony is a significant tradition at the School of Medicine, establishing a commitment to professionalism and empathy in medical practice from the outset. Each student was presented with a white coat by either a faculty member or a loved one, followed by the recitation of the Hippocratic Oath.
Chad Miller, M.D., professor of internal medicine and senior associate dean for undergraduate medical education, addressed the new class: “To the Class of 2028, I hope you feel different when you put that white coat on today,” he stated. He emphasized that they are now part of a longstanding tradition at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
The School received 5,809 applications this year and conducted interviews with 726 applicants. The incoming class comprises 80 women and 96 men; 63% are from the Midwest region. Notably, 36 students are from Missouri while another 47 hail from Illinois.
Nearly 20% of these students have familial ties to past or present members associated with SLU or SSM Health. The average MCAT score for this cohort is 513 with an average GPA standing at 3.89.
