New MBBS, BDS students don white coats
Aligarh : The newly admitted aspiring Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students marked their rite of passage into the medical and dental education by donning the traditional white coats in a special ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) auditorium of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
They have transitioned from the study of preclinical to clinical health sciences to study at the AMU’s Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) and Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Dental College (ZADC).
The Chief Guest, AMU Vice Chancellor, Prof Tariq Mansoor congratulated each student for making it to MBBS and BDS courses.
Addressing the new students, he remarked: “I want to say how grateful the AMU administration and the faculty members are to you for the path that you will choose to take, for the many lives that you will choose to touch, and for the many gifts of health care that you will choose to give.”
“You have transitioned from the study of preclinical to clinical health sciences in top medical and dental colleges of the country”, said Prof Mansoor pointing out that JNMC was recently ranked among the top 15 medical colleges by the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) which also ranked ZADC in top dental colleges.
He emphasised: The medical and dental professions are about enhancing patient care and there are plenty of things that health workers can do to improve patient care, but the most important thing is to be completely open and honest when sharing information with the patient and his or her family about the condition and treatment. Take the time to clearly and thoroughly explain the facts of the situation, and it will do a great deal to improve patient care.
Prof Mansoor urged the students to give back to their alma mater as mentors to future students by providing them with guidance and advice.
Administrating the ‘Hippocratic Oath’ to the students, Prof Rakesh Bhargava (Dean, Faculty of Medicine) urged the new MBBS and BDS students to treat the sick to the best of their ability, preserve patient privacy and to teach the secrets of medicine to the next generation.
He motivated the students to remain solemn to their covenant.
Prof Rakesh Bhargava also delivered the welcome address.
“After two years of the pandemic highlighted by so many virtual events, the new MBBS and BDS students are finally celebrating their White Coat Ceremony – hosted in-person. I am sure that the coming years of experience at JNMC and ZADC will prepare you to take on the health care challenges”, said Prof Shahid Ali Siddiqui (Principal, JNMC).
Prof Rajendra Kumar Tewari (Principal, ZADC) emphasised: “As first-year medical and dental students in post-Covid pandemic period, you are in a unique position to reflect on the struggles of the past two years – and use these transformative experiences for better health care”.
Prof Seema Hakim (Coordinator, Medical Educational Department) conducted the programme and Prof Saira Mehnaz extended the vote of thanks.
Dr Ali Jafar Abedi facilitated the coat wearing ritual.
Chairperson of various JNMC and ZADC departments, teaching faculty, resident doctors and students and their parents attended the ceremony.