In a ceremony symbolizing the start of students’ medical journeys, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine welcomed its incoming class of 182 students on Friday, July 25 — including Amarillo native and Palo Duro High School graduate Preston Thipaphay — with the traditional donning of the white coat.
The White Coat Ceremony marks a rite of passage for first-year medical students, serving as a formal induction into the profession. During the event, students are presented with white coats — long recognized as symbols of compassion, trust and responsibility — before reciting the Hippocratic Oath or a similar pledge affirming their commitment to ethical medical practice.
“This feels good, really,” said Thipaphay, 25. “I’m grateful and honored to be chosen as part of this class. Today is that visual representation of all the goals and promises I’ve worked toward starting to come to life.”…