White Coat Ceremony, Class of 2015
Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine
welcomed the Class of 2015 to the Veterinary Medical Profession at
the 13th Annual Convocation, also known as the White Coat Ceremony
on Friday, August 19, 2011.
History of the White Coat Ceremony
The White Coat Ceremony, established by Dr. Arnold Gold at Columbia
University Medical School in 1993, was designed to impress upon students,
physicians and the public the important symbolic role of the white coat in
patient-doctor interactions. Gold argued that students were reciting the
Hippocratic Oath four years too late-upon their graduation from medical
school. He felt the oath and the conferring of white coats would be better
done at the start of medical school, when students receive their first
exposure to clinical medicine. The White Coat Ceremony provides a mechanism
by which values that are key to our profession can be openly articulated and
carefully considered in the company of peers, parents, partners and faculty.
The College of Veterinary Medicine has embraced the spirit of this exercise.
You will find that our ceremony has been appropriately modified for
veterinary medical students. It includes an induction into the Veterinary
Medical College, whereupon each student will receive a coat, generously
donated by the Idaho and Washington State Veterinary Medical Associations.
As a group, the students recite a "Veterinary Student Oath".
Program Dignitaries
Dr. Bryan Slinker, Dean, College of
Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Patricia Talcott, Director of Admissions
Dr. John Cannon, Representative for WSVMA
Dr. Dave Rustebakke, Representative for IVMA
Dr.
Cathy King, Keynote Speaker
Dr. Steve Simasko, Chair, IPN
Dr. David Prieur, Chair, VMP
Dr. William Dernell, Chair, VCS
Dr. Steve Parish, VCS
Dr. Rick DeBowes, Associate Dean, Development and External
Relations
Mr. Miguel Inzunza, Student Services Specialist/Recruiter
Keynote Speaker
Catherine
King, DVM, MS, PhD
CEO of World Vets
Presentation of White Coats
Dr. Patricia Talcott Director of
Admissions and Miguel Inzunza Student
Services Specialist/Recruiter
Veterinary Student Oath,
Dr. Steve Parish, Veterinary Clinical Science
Keynote Address by Dr. Cathy King
Catherine King, DVM, MS, PhD
Dr Cathy King grew up on a small farm
in Sandpoint Idaho. By the age of 25
she had completed four college degrees,
including a Bachelors in Veterinary
Science, Masters in Animal Science and a
PhD in Physiology all from the
University of Idaho, along with a Doctor
of Veterinary Medicine degree from
Washington State University College of
Veterinary Medicine ('97). She worked
as an associate veterinarian in a mixed
animal practice for several years prior
to opening Hometown Animal Hospital in
Deer Park, Washington. During her time
as a practice owner, she founded World
Vets which now has its headquarters in
Fargo, North Dakota. What started from
a donation jar at a small town
veterinary hospital has now become one
of the largest veterinary aid
organizations in the world. In 2008 Dr
King sold her practice to provide full
time leadership as the CEO of World
Vets, which now has ongoing programs in
34 countries on 6 continents and
provides over $5 million/year in
veterinary aid. In addition to
deploying a volunteer veterinary team
abroad nearly every week of the year,
World Vets runs a year-round surgery
training center in Nicaragua, provides
global disaster relief services and is
the NGO providing civilian veterinarians
for two annual US military humanitarian
aid missions aboard Navy ships. World
Vets also provides international
veterinary experience for hundreds of
veterinary students each year. Dr King
is newlywed and enjoys sharing her life
with husband Dr Mike Sornson.
Sponsored by
Hills Pet Nutrition Inc.
Washington State Veterinary Medical Association
Idaho
Veterinary Medical Association
Veterinary Student Oath (adapted from the
AVMA
Veterinarian's Oath)
As a veterinary student in the Washington State University College of
Veterinary Medicine, I promise to work conscientiously to develop my scientific
and medical knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the
protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of
animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical
knowledge.
Throughout my time here as a student, I will conduct myself with dignity and
professionalism, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical
ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my
professional knowledge and competence.
