Class of 2009 White Coat Ceremony On Saturday, December 10, LECOM Bradenton's Class of 2009 received their white consultation coats in a traditional “White Coat Ceremony” held at the Hyatt Sarasota. Before an audience of over 500, including family, friends and distinguished guests from various osteopathic medical associations, LECOM Bradenton’s four clinical deans presented each student with a white consultation coat. The ceremony is a tradition that was established at LECOM in 1996 for 1st year medical students. The “white coat” is viewed by medical school faculty and students as a symbol of trust between doctor and patient, compassion, and the purity of the physician’s purpose. The guest speaker was Lt. Christopher Scuderi, D.O., a 2002 graduate of The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA. Dr. Scuderi lives in Jacksonville, Florida and serves as a U.S. Navy physician assigned to Destroyer Squadron 14. Distinguished guests for this special event were Philip Shettle, D.O., president of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA); Joseph Giaimo, D.O., president of the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA); William Silverman, D.O., AOA trustee and Adopt-a-Campus respresentative for LECOM Bradenton; and Mario Lanni, executive director of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association (POMA).
Morganna Freeman, president of the Class of 2009, (center) proudly poses with Michael Perry (left) and Mark Shank (right) after receiving their white coats. For more White Coat Ceremony pictures,
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