News
White Coat Ceremony Proudly Welcomes the Class of 2015
01/23/12
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts— Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) welcomed the class of 2015 at the school’s twenty-eighth White Coat Ceremony on Monday, January 9, 2012. The ceremony marks the beginning of the students’ career in veterinary medicine. The ceremony is a time-honored tradition, which represents the importance of positive patient-doctor interactions and professionalism.
Guy St. Jean, DVM, associate dean for academic affairs welcomed the incoming class and congratulated them on their hard work. “I know you are experiencing a feeling of anticipation and are looking forward to becoming full-fledged doctors. I urge you to challenge yourselves; get to know your classmates because they will become your family on campus and your friends for life; and most importantly advocate on behalf of animals.”
St. Jean proudly introduced a former student of RUSVM, keynote speaker, Dane Arends, DVM ’09. Arends challenged the students to embody professionalism throughout their careers and lives. Sharing the importance of integrity and a drive to succeed, he told the students that their personal identities will become more than just their own; making reference to their representation of their class, the University, and the veterinary profession as a whole.
“When I was at student at RUSVM, I had great ideas of what it meant to be a vet and wear the white coat. The white coat is a symbol of knowledge, authority, respect and most of all, healing. It provides reassurance to the owner that you will treat their animal with the utmost care. It is a tribute to the hard work it took get here and carries with it a duty to heed the words of the oath you will recite. An air of professionalism should follow you from this point forward. Keep your eyes on the prize and always remember that nothing is more important than your studies.”
Arends is currently the owner of the Wadsworth Veterinary Hospital – a small animal private practice – in Wadsworth, Ohio, and is co-owner of Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital. He also teaches Small Animal Dentistry Techniques and Small Animal Surgical Techniques in the Veterinary Technology program at Stautzenberger College in Brecksville, Ohio. Arends’ primary interests are in surgical correction of soft-tissue, as well as, orthopedic and oncological diseases. He received RUSVM’s Timothy H. Brasmer Award for Small Animal Surgery and the Simmons Educational Fund Business Aptitude Award and Scholarship.
Echoing Arends' theme of professionalism, interim dean, Gilbert Burns, DVM, explained the significance of the white coat, emphasizing its symbolism. “As you take the Veterinary Student Oath today, I want you to recognize the importance of its meaning and uphold the highest of standards in our profession. Along this journey you will experience highs and lows. But make no mistake, you were meant to be here. The white coat you will receive carries with it a certain status, which instantly identifies you as a member of the medical community.”
Students were presented with a white lab coat with the RUSVM logo on the lapel. The ceremony came to a close following the swearing of the Veterinary Student Oath, during which students pledged their dedication to the service of both animals and humanity.
About Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
Ross University is a provider of medical and veterinary education, offering Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree programs. Founded in 1982 and located in St. Kitts, West Indies, the School of Veterinary Medicine is accredited by the St. Christopher & Nevis Accreditation Board and the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education to offer the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree program (AVMA COE, 1931 North Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173, 847-925-8070). The School of Veterinary Medicine is affiliated with 23 AVMA-accredited U.S. veterinary schools where students complete their clinical year. The University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital is the only facility outside the U.S. and Canada accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association.
Ross University’s administrative offices are located in North Brunswick, NJ. For more information about Ross University, visit www.RossU.edu.
