White Coat Ceremony Marks the First Step Towards the Noble Medical Profession

Chittoor, November 12: With a spirit of compassion, dedication, and respect for the medical profession, The Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (AIMSR), Chittoor, celebrated the White Coat Ceremony for the MBBS Batch of 2025 with great enthusiasm on Wednesday. The event, regarded as a significant milestone in a medical student’s journey, symbolized their formal induction into the medical profession. The ceremony commenced at 10:30 a.m. in Lecture Hall No.1. Prof. H. Vinod Bhat, Vice-Chancellor, The Apollo University, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while Dr. Margaret Shanti, Senior Consultant from CMC Vellore, attended as the Guest of Honour. Dr. Alfred J. Augustine, Dean, AIMSR, along with Associate Deans Dr. Ramya Ramakrishnan and Dr. Usha Adiga, led the proceedings. Delivering the welcome address, Dr. Usha Adiga emphasized that the white coat is not merely an attire but a symbol of the values and ethics of the medical profession. Guest of Honour Dr. Margaret Shanti highlighted that “True doctors are those with kindness in their hearts, alertness in their eyes, and skill in their hands. Earning the trust of patients and preserving that trust is the core duty of every medical student,” she said. In his keynote address, Vice-Chancellor Prof. H. Vinod Bhat described the White Coat Ceremony as a sacred turning point in a student’s life — a symbol not only of knowledge but of profound responsibility. He noted that the Apollo Group stands as a global leader in healthcare, operating 75 super-specialty hospitals, 12,000 beds, and over 6,000 pharmacies worldwide. “Every lesson you learn and every experience you gain here at Apollo will serve as the foundation for your medical career. As future physicians, uphold compassion, ethics, and integrity — the true essence of medical service,” he urged the students. Later, dignitaries and faculty members ceremoniously presented white coats to the students. Dr. B.G. Ranganath, Medical Superintendent, Government Hospital, Chittoor, administered the Hippocratic Oath, reinforcing the students’ commitment to ethical and humanitarian medical practice. Following the main ceremony, students participated in the Cadaveric Oath at the Anatomy Dissection Hall under the guidance of Dr. Teresa Rani. “It is through the generosity of body donors that medical students gain a deep understanding of human anatomy. Respecting these donors is the first and foremost duty of every medical student,” she said. The event witnessed the participation of Dr. Ashok Kumar Reddy, Dr. Ramya R., Dr. Savitha Selvam, Dr. Sravana Deepthi, and Ms. Supriya, along with faculty members, students, and parents in large numbers. The organizers noted that AIMSR, Chittoor, continues to promote value-based medical education rooted in ethics, compassion, and service to humanity.