SMD Welcomes Class of 2030 with White Coats and Cheers
The University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry’s class of 2030 donned their white coats Aug. 14 in a deeply meaningful and highly celebratory kickoff to their medical training.
The 21st Annual Dr. Robert L. and Lillian H. Brent White Coat Ceremony was held at the Eastman School of Music’s Kilbourn Hall. URMC CEO and SMD Dean David Linehan, MD, noted the capacity crowd.
“The first thing I want to say to the class of 2030 is, you are loved,” Linehan said to applause.
The class includes 105 students from 27 states and an array of other countries.
“I can say after 40 years of being in medicine, there is no better job,” Linehan said. “It’s such an incredible profession. I welcome you all.”
That welcome was echoed loudly and often by an audience of cheering faculty, friends, and loved ones. Class of 2030 member Hannah Adams, a Chicago native, brought a 10-person cheering section with her.
“It’s so exciting,” she said afterward. “I feel like the whole ceremony was inspirational, and it makes me feel so grateful to be joining such a meaningful profession.”
The ceremony featured several speakers along with a class oath.
Student speaker Nick Lahue, a member of SMD’s class of 2027, reminded the students of the extraordinary privilege that comes with a white coat: Joining a profession entrusted with offering hope, care, and clarity to patients on some of the hardest days of their lives. He urged them to remember their “why”—their reason for pursuing medicine—and to help each other.
“Connection is not just an extra part of medical school; it is part of how you make it through,” he said. “The relationships you build now matter. You will forge them in late-night study sessions, difficult exams, shared meals, and the ordinary moments in between. Be there for one another. Ask your classmates how they’re doing—and be willing to answer honestly when someone asks you.”
Faculty speaker Caren Gellin, MD, associate professor of Pediatrics, remembered what she felt when she put on her white coat for the first time. It was a combination of excitement, pride and awe—and the weighty realization she now had a responsibility to help others.
She likened the coat to a superhero cape.
“In many ways, medical training is quite similar to the hero’s journey that is ubiquitous in literature and film,” she said. “You start with an ordinary life and decide to answer the call to address a challenge by entering an unknown world: Cue medical school. There are several trials that will forge personal growth, build lasting friendships, and incorporate invaluable mentors. Finally, the hero survives a massive ordeal—which for many in medicine is residency—and returns to the ordinary world to make it a better place. So, as you embark on your hero’s journey, my advice is quite simple—be a human first.”
For class of 2030 member Amaar Alwani, a University of Rochester graduate, donning the white coat was both exciting and daunting.
“There are so many impressive people whose footsteps you are following in,” he said.
Classmate Gianni Notaro, also a University of Rochester graduate, shared that sense of awe.
“It’s incredible,” he said. “When I started this journey, I knew this day would come, but now that it’s here, it’s kind of surreal.”
David Lambert, MD, senior associate dean for Medical Student Education, welcomed the class and lauded those who make their journey possible.
“The medical school’s success lies not only in our faculty and the patients who will let you into their lives, but also in the work of many others, including those in admissions, student services, the Office of Curriculum and Assessment, and those who maintain our facilities,” he said.
It was the final White Coat ceremony for Lambert, who is stepping down from his administrative role.
“I was waiting for the best class to come,” Lambert joked to cheers and applause from the audience.
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