When I was brainstorming for today, I found myself searching for things that would be meaningful to our incoming class. It was suggested to me that I simply reflect on my own time in my white coat this past year rather than make efforts to impart any wisdom, aka ‘survival techniques’.

I’ll start by saying that I’m not really a fan of the white coat itself. I think it gets in the way, it’s not very comfortable, and it just makes me feel stiff. However, what is symbolizes outweighs these initial thoughts. When you don the white coat, you are accepting to be held to a higher standard, responsibility, commitment, and an ability to put yourself second until you take it off at the end of the day. It didn’t take long to realize that I desired these things and that they are a large part of ‘why’ I chose to attend PA school, to be able to use them to help people in all aspects of their lives.

My most memorable time in my white coat thus far occurred in our first semester and solidified for me that we can do so much more than treating a diagnosis on a chart. Some of you have already heard this, but I feel it’s worth sharing again.

The patient was a mother; however, she had brought her son along to her appointment. She was worried about his behavior recently both at home and at school. She described him as “angry all the time”, during the discussion of her visit. Dr. Richards sent a classmate to get me and asked me to come to the room with my hair down. Initially, I thought this was an odd request because in a year of shadowing him [prior to starting the MPAS program] he’s rarely seen me with my hair down and certainly never asked me to take it down. I entered the room much like I look today and immediately realized why he had made this request. The patient’s son was sitting in a chair with his own long hair down and wearing a Led Zeppelin or Guns-N-Roses t-shirt – I can’t remember which, but I was impressed with his taste.

We spent the next 15-20 minutes talking about how it felt at that age to have different interests than your peers (T-Swift, J-Biebs, or Mumble Rap). As the conversation went on you could feel some of the tension lift from the room as he began to share more. This encounter had nothing to do with traditional medicine but was surreal for me. I left that room feeling as if I’d made a difference simply by related to him. I remember thinking, ‘that’s what this is about.’ And, there it was again… my ‘why’.

Emory & Henry offers several things that encouraged my decision to attend. First and foremost, the ability to learn hands-on by seeing patients from the start of our didactic coursework. This time at the Mel Leman Free Clinic was an irreplaceable experience as we began to cultivate both our diagnostic and patient interaction skills. I cannot count how many times we’ve learned something in class which has then been reinforced by seeing patients in the Clinic. Not only is this a great reinforcement tool for our studies, but it also boosts confidence, pushes us to learn more, and gives us memories of first patients. I can recall how we treated my first hypertensive, hypothyroid, or diabetic patient far more easily than the lectures on these disease states.

A second aspect of E&H that drew my attention was the instruction dedicated to behavioral medicine. This knowledge is paramount to employ as practitioners in every patient visit. Lastly, as an alumnus of E&H and a member of the Southwest Virginia community for the last decade, I knew that this program and its students would be warmly welcomed. Not only have its members been encouraging us in our education, but they have participated in many ways. This is a community where patients have chosen to let us learn with them and from them starting on our first day on campus. And, any community with an investment in me as a person is one I want to give back to, one I want to make proud… yet again, my ‘why’.

In closing, I want to share a quote that resonated with me throughout the past year: “Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat (F. Scott Fitzgerald).” This has served as a reminder to me to look towards the end game, to focus on winning the war despite the battles lost. For some of you, this may be the first time you experience academic difficulty. For the next year, sleep will be scarce, hours will be long, and at times it may feel like it’s just too much. It is those moments that I hope you can look at this White Coat and be reminded of your ‘why’.

Thank You.

Ryan Short, Class of 2019 Student President

Hello everyone, and welcome to the 3^rd annual Emory & Henry PA white coat ceremony.

I would almost guarantee that everyone is extremely proud to be here today.

Parents and family, I can’t imagine the pride you must have toward your amazing sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, husbands, wives, significant others, here today about to don their first white coats. It is such an accomplishment just to be here, and your pride is very well warranted. I am sure they are glad to have you as supporters here today and through the rest of the journey, they are about to embark on.

Faculty, I am sure you are proud of the decisions you have made in accepting these bright young students, and I hope you’re proud of all you’ve done to teach, mentor, and support the class of 2019 and the class of 2020. I must say we are proud of you for putting up with us too.

PA class of 2020, we are just proud we survived our didactic education. We may be shells of humans at this point, but hey we made it! We’ve had a nice little break and are fresh and excited to start our clinical rotations this summer.

PA class of 2019, maybe not so bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but these guys should be so proud that they are just 3 short months from graduating as the first-ever class of PA students from this college! Congrats to the class of 2019, you all are amazing and have led us in a great direction as we hope to do for the class of 2021.

Finally, the PA Class of 2021! I remember sitting where you are today and getting chills as I listened to the faculty and the different speakers talk about what an honor it is just to have been admitted to this program. It really is a big deal, and I hope you’re so proud of yourselves. You all are about to embark on the most rewarding, ridiculous, and difficult journey you may ever go through, and I hope you’re ready.

I don’t have a life-changing story as Ryan did last year, but I just wanted to take some time today to talk about the transitions of life. I fully believe that if you are not learning, growing, and becoming a better version of yourself every single day, then you aren’t doing what you were placed in this world to do. As time goes on, we are making continuous changes to our hearts, our appearances, our educational status, our familial status, our character, and everything that makes us individuals. These changes may not always be outwardly visible, so sometimes it may be difficult to remain motivated and keep moving in the right direction. Today, however, is one of those life-changing days. A day when there is a physical reward, an outward change that others may see, and a start of a whole new version of yourselves. It is a day you’ll remember forever.

Today you get the absolute honor of wearing your first white coat. This coat represents all that you are working toward and likely have been for quite some time.

This coat is professionalism – how you carry yourself, how you treat others – patients and colleagues alike.

This coat is trust – the patients you will see while wearing this coat will disclose things to you that they are afraid of, ashamed of, and would never tell another soul. They will trust you to change and in some cases save their lives.

This coat is integrity – your honesty with patients, your morals to determine right from wrong, even when it is difficult.

This coat is knowledge – you are now held to such a high standard, so you must do your best to learn and grow in your study of medicine every single day.

Today, all this is quite literally placed upon your shoulders. So today will be absolutely a life-changing time that you will remember forever. Today, you become student providers. Today represents the rest of your lives as professionals, medical providers, and lifelong learners. Though the rest of the days from here on out in the program may seem like an uphill battle, I want you all to look back on today, remember the words that were spoken, remember the pride that you felt, and remember even in the toughest times the reason you are here and why you have received this highest honor.

Hanna Stanley, Class President, Class of 2020