The Metropolitan College of Medicine (MCM) celebrated a significant academic milestone this weekend with its annual White Coat Ceremony, formally initiating approximately 45 medical students into the clinical phase of their professional training. The prestigious event, held at the Royalton Hotel on Saturday, recognized students across MD1 to MD5 levels who are now advancing to hands-on medical practice.
This ceremonial coating comes as many students are already engaged in clinical rotations across various healthcare facilities, including private clinics and the prominent Mount St John’s Medical Centre. Their practical training encompasses essential medical disciplines such as paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, and psychiatry.
The incoming cohort demonstrates notable diversity, comprising around 25 international students from India, Nigeria, the United States, and Pakistan, alongside local Antiguan scholars including Jason Mansoor.
More than just a tradition, the White Coat Ceremony serves as a rite of passage that emphasizes the profession’s core values. It represents a solemn commitment to maintaining the highest standards of medical professionalism, ethical practice, and compassionate patient-centered care throughout their evolving medical careers.