Dear colleagues,

Tomorrow is a very special occasion for our incoming class of medical students: the White Coat Ceremony. With the ceremonial donning of the white coat – the visible mark of a physician – we formally welcome these students into the College as they begin their journey into the medical profession.
 
The White Coat Ceremony
Please join us in welcoming the Class of 2020 at 5 p.m. Friday, July 29, in Centennial Hall. Dr. Bruce Coull will deliver the keynote address, “50 Steps in Four Years: Professionalism on the Road to Becoming a Doctor,” before the ceremonial presentation of the white coats in front of hundreds of the students’ family members and friends.
 
There are many ways to be part of this ceremony, and thank you to everyone who contributed to this year’s Stethoscope and White Coat Campaign to provide each incoming medical student with a white coat and stethoscope and provide scholarships.
 
The Class of 2020
The Class of 2020 epitomizes the University of Arizona’s “boundless” theme:

• We had a record number of applications for this class: 6,458.
• At 135 students, it is our largest class ever due to a record yield rate of accepted students.
• This is a diverse class: 35 percent of those students are under-represented minorities in medicine.
• 11 graduates of our P-MAP Program are members of this class.
• Five students are pursing dual medical and doctoral degrees through the MD-PhD Program.

To accommodate the students in this record-breaking class, the Office of Student Affairs has been hard at work adding Societies Program mentors and working with Facilities Management, the Office of Medical School Education and Student Development to make sure comfortable learning environments and resources are in place to uphold the high quality of education we are known to deliver. Everyone has stepped up to the challenge, knowing that each of these students will become a part of the remarkable legacy of UA College of Medicine - Tucson alumni whose contributions to medical science have resulted in advances that have expanded the boundaries of knowledge, alleviated untold suffering, and saved the lives of countless individuals.
 
Shaping the Future of Medicine
I truly appreciate the important roles all of you play in our students’ education and experience in this College. Whether you work with students directly as faculty mentors, schedule their classes and training experiences or facilitate community outreach opportunities – whatever your role, you are helping to transform and improve the health care delivered in Tucson, Arizona and beyond.

Sincerely,

Charles B. Cairns, MD
Dean, College of Medicine - Tucson