University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus Welcomes Newest Class of Students

DULUTH, Minn. — The University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus welcomed its newest class of students to the program Friday.

The White Coat Ceremony is a tradition for first year med students that aims to acknowledge the work these future doctors have already done, the long journey still ahead, and of course, presenting each student with their white coat.

“The ceremony is just a wonderful step in the process of becoming a doctor, and it’s just this big, like I’m here, I did it,” said Jamie Vergin, 2nd year med student. “I was here just a year ago, and so to see these, a couple of these people also just step into their role, get their coat today. It’s just such a momentous occasion.”

Max Felland received his white coat today, and says it was the values he learned early in life, that drove him to choose this path.

“I think a lot of it was just my early, like, experiences growing up, I went to a service oriented school, so I kind of was in that kind of community where helping people was, like, kind of the forefront of my education,” said Felland. “And I think that kind of just naturally led towards a profession in medicine.”

The students who received their white coats today will become a part of the graduating class of 2028.