The newest class of students at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine received their white coats and recited the Hippocratic Oath last week as they embarked on their journey toward becoming doctors.
The 50 students represent the second class for the new medical school, which welcomed its first group of students last year.
This year’s class was selected from a pool of more than 11,000 applicants, according to Jessica Revlin, the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at the School.
“The White Coat Ceremony is a medical school rite of passage that signifies the start of the students’ medical training,” Revlin said. “This significant event in their journey provides students a chance to reflect on their fundamental responsibility to care for, heal and protect others, as well as the opportunity to thank those who have supported them on their journey to becoming medical professionals.”
The four-year academic program includes biomedical science, clinical science and health systems science “in a longitudinal, spiral, case-based curriculum,” according to Revlin.
Students begin gaining both in-person and clinical experience as early as three weeks into the school year.
Upon graduation, newly minted doctors are not required to apply for their residencies at a Kaiser Permanente facility, she explained.
“Students are encouraged to follow their own passion and career path that best suits them,” Revlin said.
The pandemic has seemingly inspired passion in many students to pursue medicine as a career, she said.
“The past year-and-a-half reinforced the importance of a passionate healthcare workforce and showed a new drive for medical professional hopefuls,” Revlin said. “In the U.S., there was an 18% increase in applications for the 2021-2022 academic year than for the year prior.”
More information on the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine is available on the institution’s website at medschool.kp.org.
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