IOWA CITY, IOWA (August 23, 2022) — The Carver College of Medicine recently staged its annual Arnold P Gold Foundation White Coat Ceremony for first-year students beginning their medical education at the University of Iowa. The event welcomed the College's class of 2026 and it represented the first time these future physicians would recite the Oath of Hippocrates, calling attention to the importance of the doctor-patient relationship.
The White Coat Ceremony is a celebrated experience as students enter medical school. In the presence of family, guests, and faculty members, students are welcomed into the medical community by leaders of the medical center and ceremonially "cloaked" with their white coat. Then, dressed in white, they stand to take the ancient Oath of Hippocrates, traditionally sworn at graduation.
By establishing this meaningful ritual at the beginning of medical school, we hope students will become aware of their responsibilities from the first day of training. The ceremony is intended to impress upon them the primacy of the doctor/patient relationship. It encourages them to enter into a psychological contract in which they accept the obligations inherent in the practice of medicine: To be excellent in science, to be compassionate, and to lead lives of "uprightness and honor." It is designed to clarify for students that a physician's responsibility is to take care of patients and also to care for patients. The message transmitted is that doctors should "care" as well as "cure."
Enthusiasm for the White Coat Ceremony continues to grow. In 1994, The Arnold P Gold Foundation sponsored three ceremonies. In 1995, entering students at four additional medical schools, including the University of Iowa participated in White Coat Ceremonies sponsored by The Gold Foundation. Currently, a White Coat Ceremony or similar rite of passage takes place at 97% of AAMC-accredited schools of medicine in the United States and Canada. The Foundation's goal is that medical schools will make the White Coat Ceremony the highlight of their student orientation programs.
The Class of 2026 by the Numbers
152 students
- 84 women
- 68 men
- 16 first-generation college students
- 101 from Iowa
- 51 from out-of-state
Undergraduate Colleges
- University of Iowa — 39 (25.7%)
- Iowa State University — 9 (5.9%)
- University of Northern Iowa — 2 (1.3%)
- Other Iowa Colleges — 24 (15.8%)
- Colleges Outside of Iowa — 78 (51.3%)
Academics
- Undergraduate GPA Mean: 3.79
- Undergraduate GPA Median: 3.825
- MCAT Mean: 513
- MCAT Median: 513.5
Evan Balk of Davenport (52803)
Kyle Berst of Bettendorf (52722)
Chase Brandt of Davenport (52807)
Abigail Davison of Bettendorf (52722)
Adriana Ehlers of Bettendorf (52722)
Austin Halupnik of Bettendorf (52722)
Ostap Kukhar of Bettendorf (52722)
Nathanial Lindsey of Davenport (52806)
Alexander Syverud of Riverdale (52722)
Elena Volfson of Bettendorf (52722)
Sophia Xiao of Bettendorf (52722)
About the University of Iowa
As a top global university, Iowa is the ideal destination for learning, discovery, and innovation. We bring art and science together to create a truly unique interdisciplinary education. With over 200 areas of study to choose from, students are encouraged to mix and match majors, minors, and certificates to earn a degree that reflects their unique interests.
From inside our world-class medical center to the most prestigious creative-writing program in the US, students have access to quality academic support and are equipped with the tools they need to stand out in a competitive workforce. Our 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio allows students to work directly with experts in their field while earning valuable, practical skills.
Our campus seamlessly blends into the heart of downtown Iowa City, making it easy to access academic resources and belong to a larger, welcoming community. With over 500 student organizations, clubs, and communities on campus, and countless in-town events scheduled throughout the year, Iowa makes it easy to build a network of friendships and connections that last a lifetime.
To learn more about the University of Iowa, click HERE.
