The School of Medical Sciences (SMS),University of Cape Coast (UCC), has inducted 169 medical students into the clinical phase of their training at its 15th White Coat ceremony.
The ceremony, held at the New Examination Centre, was a rite of passage for students to pass through in obtaining practical learning experience and subsequently becoming medical doctors.
The students also took the medical Students’ Oath which read in part that “they will practise medicine to the highest standards of conduct and seek what is best for their patients and without allowing greed, nor stinginess, nor desire for great reputation to corrupt them”. A former Dean of the School, Prof. Ivy A. E. Ekem, administered the SMS Oath to the students.
Delivering a speech as the guest speaker, the Director of the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Sekondi, Dr. Joseph Kofi Tambil, congratulated the students on completion of the basic science portion of medicine and advised them to show respect and compassion towards their patients.
He said, as medical students, they should create their future now while in school by upholding the standards and principles in delivering their responsibilities.
Dr. Tambil admonished them to demonstrate a high sense of discipline, comportment and moral high ground, as well as adhering strictly to the ethics of the profession.
A section of the medical students taking the Medical Students’ Oath
He urged them to pursue excellence by committing to lifelong learning and embracing teamwork. The Director further tasked them to be innovative and creative while striving for excellence during their training.
He advised them to be time-conscious in all their endeavours to progress faster in life.
“The first step towards success is self-management. Be time-conscious and do a SWOT analysis of yourselves to be good doctors,” said Dr. Tambil.
He reminded them of four cardinal principles of life, these he said, were beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and autonomy at the hospital, which according to him, every medical student should know.
Dr. Tambil implored the medical students to dress decently to reflect the ethics of the profession.
The Provost of the College of Health and Allied Sciences, Prof. Martins Ekor, who chaired the function, commended the students for their hard work, dedication and passion for studying medicine.
He urged them to ensure that they adopted the tenets of compassion, care and love in the next phase of their studies.
Director of the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in the Western Region, Dr. Joseph Kofi Tambil
According to him, the white coat the medical students would wear was a symbol of the trust and responsibility that had been placed in them by the society.
He said SMS had seen significant improvement in infrastructure and facilities, and commended the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong for the rapid expansion of the school.
The Dean of the School of Medical Sciences, Prof. Sebastian Eliason, in his address, described the ceremony as an iconic ritual that had become a symbolic hallmark of the SMS. This, according to him, inspired the zeal in students but more importantly, to remind them of their responsibility to care for humanity.
He advised them to build skills in communication, critical thinking and collaboration in their clinical studies.
The Founding Dean of the School of Medical Sciences of UCC, Prof. Harold Amonoo-Kuofie, who is also the Chairman of the Governing Council of UCC, asked the students to adopt the tenets of ethical practice, altruism, humanistic care, compassion, care and love.
"As you embark on this journey, remember that medicine is a calling that requires ethical practice, altruism, and humanistic care," he said.
Dignitaries who graced the occasion with the fresh clinical students in a shot
He advised them to be lifelong learners, curious, technologically savvy and continually update their skills to provide evidence-based care.
"Your predecessors have set a high standard for you to emulate and improve upon. I challenge you to embrace this legacy, push boundaries and contribute meaningfully to the medical community, " he added.
UCC SMS was established in 2008 to augment the training of medical professionals to help close the patient-doctor ratio gap. Since then, it has produced high-quality doctors for Ghana and the world through a first-class curriculum.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC