4 Milestone Events in a Medical Student’s Journey

Attending medical school is a challenging and exciting time for every student. As Alice L. Walton School of Medicine prepares to welcome our first class of inaugural students on July 14, we’re looking ahead towards some of the biggest milestones in the journey to becoming a doctor.

Student Orientation

During orientation, students are welcomed to their medical school of choice and introduced to the resources, curriculum, and expectations that will guide them through the next four years.

AWSOM orientation week will offer students the opportunity to meet their physician career mentors, connect with other students in their class, and participate in a day of outreach and service learning.

 

 

 

 

White Coat Ceremony

The White Coat Ceremony was officially established in 1993 by the Gold Foundation at Columbia University. Now practiced by hundreds of medical schools, this event symbolizes a medical student’s formal entry into the medical profession. During the ceremony, students don their white coats for the first time and often recite the Hippocratic Oath or another vow signifying their commitment to a responsible, compassionate practice of medicine.

The event serves to inspire students as they begin their journey to becoming doctors and reinforces the values of integrity, lifelong learning, and empathy in the field of medicine.

Match Day

Match Day can be one of the most exciting and emotional events in a medical student’s journey. Held annually in mid-March, it is the day when graduating medical students across the United States find out where they will be conducting their residency training.  The moment marks the culmination of years of hard work and sets the path for the next phase of their medical careers.

Commencement

Commencement marks the official completion of a medical degree. This event honors the dedication and perseverance of the graduating class as they transition from students to medical professionals. It is a momentous occasion that reflects both the achievement of a significant academic milestone and the beginning of the graduates’ professional careers in medicine. AWSOM’s first class will celebrate commencement in 2029.

Awards Ceremonies

Throughout the academic year, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine will hold various awards ceremonies to recognize the outstanding achievements of medical students, faculty, and staff. These events will honor accomplishments such as academic performance, clinical skills excellence, research endeavors, leadership, and community service. Award ceremonies aim to foster a spirit of recognition and encouragement as students progress through their medical education.