The White Coat Ceremony for third-year Medical students beginning their clinical placements

Putting on a white coat for the first time means more than taking a step towards a medical career: it means accepting the responsibility of caring for others. This important milestone, marking the transition from academic training to clinical practice, was celebrated at the University of Insubria with the White Coat Ceremony, held on 14 October in the Aula Magna of the Rectorate. The event was dedicated to the 200 third-year students enrolled in the single-cycle Master’s degree programme in Medicine and Surgery who are beginning their clinical placements.

The afternoon opened with institutional addresses by Rector Maria Cristina Pierro and Daniela Dalla Gasperina, the Rector’s Delegate for Teaching. They were followed by Francesca Rovera, President of the School of Medicine, and Matteo Tozzi, President of the single-cycle Master’s degree programme in Medicine and Surgery. The students’ perspective was represented by Lucia Ceruti, a Medical student and member of the Academic Senate, who shared the viewpoint of those preparing to embark on this new stage of their education.

The speakers emphasised that direct contact with patients requires not only clinical knowledge and skills, but also the ability to listen, an awareness of one’s own limitations, respect for human dignity and a focus on the human dimension of care.

The highlight of the ceremony was the calling of the students, who came up on stage in groups to receive a patch bearing the University of Insubria logo, to be attached to their white coats. This symbolic gesture marked their entry into clinical training and reaffirmed their connection with the university community.

Adding to the solemnity of the occasion was the collective reading of the Physician’s Oath, a contemporary version of the Hippocratic Oath that recalls the ethical and professional principles underpinning medical practice. The students pledged to practise medicine with independent judgement and a sense of responsibility, to safeguard physical and mental health, to respect the dignity and freedom of every individual, and to ensure that everyone receives attentive care without discrimination.

The text also emphasises the importance of the doctor-patient relationship, based on trust and respect for patients’ rights; the need to provide clear and comprehensive information before obtaining consent; ethical and scientific rigour in research; and the protection of confidentiality. These principles serve as a reminder that medical practice extends beyond technical expertise and entails an ongoing commitment to individuals and society.