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Students vow to uphold principles oath 2011
White coats, educational awards are given at Second-Year Oath ceremony

By Kristen O’Reilly and Bryan Goodchild
UMass Medical School Communications 		 April 6, 2011

 Second-year School of Medicine students stood before family, friends and faculty and vowed to “care for [their] patients, improve their health, and enhance their quality of life” by pursuing ideals as caregivers, listeners, lifelong learners, teachers, colleagues, persons and members of the community. They made this vow on Tuesday, April 5, at their Second-Year Oath Ceremony, the formal event that marks their educational transition from the classroom to the clinic.

“Our ceremony here recognizes in a formal and ceremonial way the totality of the vocation to which these students are called,” said Chancellor Michael F. Collins. “It has evolved to meet the particular humanity that makes this medical school a singular place. I am proud to be a part of it and am humbled by the energy and grace each second-year class invests in their declaration of their commitment.”

“As I witness you taking your oath, I will be both proud and overwhelmingly optimistic about our future,” said Terence R. Flotte, dean of the School of Medicine, provost and executive deputy chancellor, in his reflections. “Much is expected from you, but I every confidence that you will exceed all of our expectations.”

The ceremony included an address by Henri Cuénoud, MD, associate professor of medicine, who was chosen by the class as the keynote speaker. He joked that the oath, written by the students themselves, should have included one more line: As a member of the Class of 2013, I will become a primary care physician.

“As of July 1, you are going to be demoted,” he said, referring to the status of a third-year medical student as the most junior member of a clinical care team. “You are going to be at the bottom of the ladder. I would tell you this is the best time to lay low. You will have more time to talk to patients . . . I have no doubt that in a few years you will be on this stage yourself.”

In a departure from recent tradition, before the oath, members of the class came up to the stage individually to be helped into their white coats, echoing UMMS’ first-ever White Coat Ceremony held last fall at Convocation for first-year students. Chancellor Collins remarked that the White Coat Ceremony was so well received that the second-year class also wanted to take part in this symbolic gesture. Each student picked an important person in his or her life to be on stage to help put on the coat and receive a hug.

Stuart P. Murray and David H. Wang, co-presidents of the Class of 2013 Student Body Committee, presented Outstanding Medical Educator Awards to Vijay Vanguri, MD, instructor in pathology; Krista S. Johansen, MD, instructor in pathology and cell biology; Anne M. Gilroy, MA, associate professor of surgery and cell biology; Susan B. Gagliardi, PhD, professor of cell biology and neurology; and John M. Cooke, PhD, associate professor of cell biology.  


View a slideshow of the 2011 Second-Year Oath ceremony 

School of Medicine Class of 2013

Second-Year Oath

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Before my family, my teachers, the profession, and every patient it serves, with humility and respect, I resolve to be a physician. To care for my patients, improve their health, and enhance their quality of life, I shall pursue these ideals:

As a caregiver: May I come to the benefit of the sick, remembering that every decision I make will impact the lives of my patients and their loved ones. May I not simply treat the illness, but care for the whole person with warmth, empathy, and understanding. May I strive to treat every patient equally and without judgment or bias. May I recognize that it is my calling not only to save lives but also to comfort and care for the dying.

As a listener: May I hear both the spoken and the unspoken. May I respect my patients’ trust and confidence, holding this privilege sacred. As a lifelong learner: May I respect the contributions of those preceding me and forever remain a student of medicine. May I engage in an ongoing process of self-reflection, finding and expanding the borders of my knowledge. May I use the best evidence available to improve the efficacy and safety of the care I provide.

As a teacher: May I advance the art and science of medicine and share it with those who will follow me. May I use the knowledge I have to empower my patients as partners in their own care. As a colleague: May I know the limits of my abilities and not be afraid to say, "I don’t know." May I hold myself accountable, while recognizing that I am part of a team, equally offering and accepting help and advice. May I admit mistakes and work tirelessly to remedy them and to prevent their recurrence.

As a person: May I promote harmony and balance in my life outside of medicine, so that I may lead a satisfying life and better care for myself and for others. May I be inspired by my friends and family to be a better physician. May I always appreciate those who sacrifice along with me in this journey.

As a member of the community: May I take pride in my profession and embrace the unique role that it carries. When compelled by experience, may I advocate for my patients, neighbors, and the medical profession. May I always cherish the gifts given to me by the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the Worcester community.

In pursuit of these ideals, may I long experience the joy of being a physician. 
 



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