More than 200 members of the incoming class of medical students at UTMB received their white coats in a ceremony that welcomed them into the medical profession.

The highlight of the ceremony was when the 230 members of the class of 2015 donned their white coats for the first time.

“This ceremony symbolically marks the beginning of a person’s medical career,” said Dr. Donald S. Prough, interim vice president and dean of the School of Medicine.  “It’s a significant milestone on the path to becoming a physician.”

Dr. Michael C. Boyars, a professor in the department of internal medicine, was the keynote speaker and presented “The real truth about medical school – Osler and your mom were right.”

Several student and faculty awards were also presented during the ceremony.

The white coat ceremony was introduced to U.S. medical schools in 1993 at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and was started at UTMB in 1996.