28th Annual White Coat Ceremony Marks New Milestone for Dental Classes of 2029 and 2030

Members of the DDS Class of 2030 and the International Dentist Pathway Class of 2029 were met with thunderous applause from friends and family as they entered the auditorium of the Presidio Theater the evening of Friday, Sept. 18. Ninety students marked an important milestone in their dental education Friday evening with family, friends, faculty, alumni, and members of the UCSF community for the school’s 28th annual White Coat Ceremony. 

Held at San Francisco’s historic Presidio Theatre, the ceremony celebrated students transitioning into the clinical phase of their education and taking on the responsibilities that come with caring for patients. The white coat ceremony has become an important tradition at UCSF Dentistry, marking the official entry of incoming student dentists into the profession, where they receive their first white coats generously provided by the UCSF Dental Alumni Association.

“The white coat has transformed into a symbol of collegiality within healthcare, and of unity in a common purpose, and in mutual respect,” said Dean Michael S. Reddy, DMD, DMSc. “The gift of the white coat underscores the professional bonding process.” 

The ceremony’s alumni keynote was delivered by Darrell Chun, DDS, a member of the Class of 1991. Chun returned to his alma mater to share lessons from a career spanning more than three decades. 

“The good news is that your education at UCSF will allow you to grow into that white coat,” said Chun. “Certainly, it’s a great privilege to improve the health of our fellow citizens and this ceremony signifies your transition to these newfound responsibilities.” 

Chun’s keynote offered students an example of the many ways a dental education can lead beyond clinical practice and into professional leadership, teaching, mentorship, continuing education, and service to the profession. 

Kent L. Knoernschild, DMD, MS, chair of the Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, read the students’ names. Akshay Govind, DMD, MD, MPH, associate professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Jean Star, DDS, MPH, associate professor of Orofacial Sciences, assisted students with putting on their white coats. 

Faculty members and school leadership joined the students onstage to honor the occasion, shaking hands and offering congratulations as each student received their coat for the first time. 

Christopher Lin, DDS, MPH, professor of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, then led the students, now donning their white coats, in the Clinic Induction Pledge. 

The pledge reflected the responsibilities that accompanied the students’ transition into clinical education. They committed to treating patients with confidentiality and compassion, building relationships grounded in trust and respect, upholding the honor and integrity of the dental profession, and continuing to develop their knowledge and skills throughout their careers. 

For the students, the white coat represents more than a new piece of professional attire. It symbolizes a transition into a new era of their learning journey as dental professionals — one that brings them one step closer to the patients and ultimately the communities they will serve.

Story by Aziza Jackson
Photos by Maurice Ramirez