Steeped in tradition, the White Coat Ceremony marks the moment when students transition from observers of healthcare to active participants, Physician Assistant Program Director Ashley Iacone, DMSc, MSPAS, PA-C, explained to the students, families, and friends gathered for Bryant University’s Physician Assistant Studies White Coat Ceremony on February 13.
“We are doing far more than handing you a uniform,” she told the program’s Class of 2027. “We are welcoming you into a community of healthcare professionals who have devoted their lives to serving others.”
Having successfully completed five didactic terms, the 46 members of Bryant’s PA Class of 2027 will spend the next stage of their academic journey immersed in clinical rotations — ranging from nearby sites in Rhode Island to as far away as American Samoa. Iacone stated that this next step will push them beyond their comfort zones, require them to master an enormous body of knowledge, and test their clinical judgment, technical skills, and interpersonal abilities.
But while the road ahead would be challenging, Iacone acknowledged, she was confident that the cohort would rise to the challenge.
“You will discover reserves of strength, determination, and resilience you didn't know existed within you,” Iacone told them. “And gradually, day by day, patient by patient, experience by experience, you will transform into the skilled, compassionate PAs our communities desperately need.”
Praising their perseverance as they mastered rigorous coursework and spent countless hours collaborating with peers and mentors, Bryant University President Ross Gittell, Ph.D., shared that the class’s education has prepared them for the healthcare landscape’s rapid evolution.
“As you move into this phase of your education, let your white coat be a constant reminder of the oath you take today — to lead with integrity, practice with humility, and treat every patient with dignity and respect,” said Gittell.
Their white coat, PA program Medical Director Earl Jackman, DO, PACOG, FACS, told the students, would be their armor as they enter the world of clinical medicine. "Aways remember: To whom much is given, much is expected,” he advised.
Jackman applauded the Class of 2027’s doggedness in stepping forward and asking questions and encouraged them to continue to do so. “You all came to Bryant University's Physician Assistant program looking for answers to your questions. If we do our job correctly, you will leave with even more questions about those very answers.”
Following Jackman’s address, the PA Class of 2027 put on their white coats for the first time — with assistance from Director of Clinical Education Danielle Cormier, MSPAS, BA, PA-C, Director of Didactic Education Stephanie Potts, MS, AT, PA-C, Associate Director of Clinical Education Jodi Cusack, MHS, PA-C, Director of Medical Simulation Stephen Sherman, MSPAS, PA-C, and Clinical Lab Instructor Allison Piascik, MSPAS, PA-C. After taking the Physician Assistant Student Pledge, which called for individuals to maintain the highest moral and ethical standards as they go about performing their medical responsibilities, Bryant University Jewish Chaplain Rabbi Steven Jablow offered a benediction.
Congratulating students once more on their remarkable achievement, Iacone reminded them that they have the profound privilege of caring for people during their most vulnerable moments and asked them to honor this responsibility with integrity, compassion, and excellence.
“The white coat you received today is a symbol, but symbols only have meaning when they inspire action. Let this coat remind you daily of why you chose this path,” Iacone said.