Weill Cornell Medicine welcomed 156 new physician assistant and medical students into clinical training Tuesday during two White Coat Ceremonies at 1334 York Ave. in New York City.
The incoming groups include 50 students in the 27-month Master of Science in Health Sciences for Physician Assistants program's Class of 2028 and 106 first-year medical students in the Class of 2030. Faculty members presented each student with a white coat to mark the beginning of their medical education.
The ceremonies were the first at which an incoming physician assistant class began at the same time as an arriving medical class, according to Weill Cornell. Dean Robert A. Harrington said the timing was intentional because members of the two professions will work together throughout their careers.
Medical students later heard from Dr. Leonard Girardi, chair of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and a 1989 graduate of the medical school. He urged students to work hard, stretch beyond their comfort zones and make full use of their four years, whether they ultimately focus on patient care, education or research.
The physician assistant and medical degree programs held separate ceremonies on Aug. 18 at the institution's York Avenue campus.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.