LMU-DCOM Class of 2026 Receives White Coats in Symbolic Ceremony

The Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) celebrated a significant milestone in the journey of medical students as they donned their white coats during ceremonies held on April 27, 2024.

The Harrogate campus witnessed 213 aspiring physicians receive their white coats, while the Knoxville campus saw 175 students participate in the revered tradition.

“This ceremony does represent an inflection point in your training,” said Dr. Christopher Loyke, dean and chief academic officer of LMU-DCOM, to the student doctors. “Everything in the clinical training environment represents an opportunity to learn.”

R. Jason Thurman, MD, FAAEM, CPPS, vice president of graduate medical education; DIO, health education services; chair, institutional review board, Community Health Systems in Franklin, Tennessee, imparted words of wisdom as he delivered the keynote address during Harrogate's white coat ceremony.

Meanwhile, in Knoxville, Kimberly Togliatti-Trickett, MD, MBA, chief medical officer at University Hospitals Ohio, shared her insights and guidance with the students as she delivered the keynote address.

The ceremonies were also marked by the presence of Braden Hammer, Class of 2026 President for Knoxville, and Om Hirurkar, Class of 2026 President for Harrogate, who addressed their peers with words of encouragement and camaraderie.

The white coat ceremony is a time-honored tradition in medical education symbolizing the transition from preclinical to clinical studies, and it serves as a pivotal moment in the lives of medical students as they commit themselves to the noble profession of healing and service. View pictures from the events here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBo7Hv and here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBo4qC

The DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine is located on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, and at LMU-Knoxville in Knoxville, Tennessee. LMU-DCOM is an integral part of LMU’s values-based learning community and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of osteopathic physicians to provide health care in the often-underserved region of Appalachia and beyond. For more information about LMU-DCOM, call 1.800.325.0900, ext. 7082, email dcom@LMUnet.edu, or visit us online at http://med.LMUnet.edu.