The White Coat Ceremony is a tradition that began in 2001 for the Physician Assistant Studies Program in the UTMB School of Health Professions. Sixty-five PA students received their white coats and took the professional oath this month. Dr. Betty Protas, vice president and dean of the UTMB School of Health Professions gave an address to students, parents and friends. Dr. Robert Beach, professor in the department of internal medicine, cloaked the students and Ms. Trisha Harris-Odimgbe, from the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants, gave each new student a professional pin.