By Kat Procyk
Photography by Rayni Shiring/University of Pittsburgh
“This is your adoption day,” Anantha Shekhar told the 151 members of University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Class of 2029 during their White Coat ceremony on July 25. The event, the first step on their journey to becoming physicians, also represented their joining the Pitt Med family, said Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of the School of Medicine.
“With this white coat, we welcome you as part of our family, and we will continue to cherish you and support you as part of our family.”
The event, at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland, was made possible with support from the Dr. Freddie and Hilda Pang Fu Endowment at the University of Pittsburgh. Fu (1950-2021), a Pitt Med faculty member for more than three decades, was the Distinguished Service Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Silver Professor and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, head team physician for the University of Pittsburgh, and founder of the UPMC Sports Medicine program. The Fus conceived the ceremony to welcome the students to Pittsburgh while giving them a taste of the cultural richness the city has to offer.
Accompanied by a performance by members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the students were called onstage five at a time to receive their white coats, one of the most recognizable symbols of working in health care. The ceremony, which commemorates a rite of passage into medical education, included short performances from Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, MCG Jazz and Pittsburgh Opera. Led by Paul Wallach, vice chancellor for health sciences education and executive vice dean for academic affairs, School of Medicine, the Class of 2029—joined by physicians in the crowd—recited the Declaration of Geneva, a pledge to uphold the highest standards of medical ethics and care.
The School of Medicine received a record number of applicants—nearly 12,000—for this entering class. The incoming students achieved a median MCAT score of 516 and a median GPA of 3.91. They have a strong dedication to research, with 14 students joining the Medical Scientist Training Program and eight entering the Physician Scientist Training Program. They represent 26 states and 65 universities, with one-fifth of the class having earned their undergraduate degrees at Pitt.
Tracey Conti, this year’s keynote speaker, reminded students to learn from and listen to their patients.
“You’re embarking on a profession that isn’t only about science and knowledge but also about compassion, empathy and service,” said Conti, UPMC Andrew W. Mathieson Professor and chair, Department of Family Medicine. “You’ve chosen to dedicate yourselves to caring for others—a noble and rewarding career. While medicine can be challenging, it’s also filled with moments of profound joy.”
In his first address to the class, Shekhar explained that Pitt Med emphasizes interprofessional education and that medical students will interact with students from other schools, like the School of Nursing or School of Pharmacy.
“As a doctor, you will be working in teams,” Shekhar said. “You’re not going to be a solo person going and doing surgery or coding a patient or managing someone in the ICU. We want to imagine you not only as a leader but also a team player.”
Alda Maria Gonzaga, professor of medicine and of pediatrics, associate dean for student affairs and former half-marathon runner, asked students to imagine medical school as a run through hills, valleys and bridges—of which the city of Pittsburgh boasts 446—and to look to the sidelines where a cheering crowd will be holding signs of support.
“That crowd is the entire Pitt Med community,” Gonzaga said. “We all believe in you, and we have no doubt you will achieve great things.”
The white coats were presented by Conti; Ankur Doshi, associate professor of emergency medicine, School of Medicine; David Metro, senior vice chair for education and faculty affairs and professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, School of Medicine, and Medical Alumni Association board president; Jack Smith, trustee emeritus, University of Pittsburgh, and chair of the Department of Orthopedics, Excela Health; and Suzanne Templer, assistant dean for student affairs and associate professor of medicine, School of Medicine.
