Pepi Dostal was inspired to enter medicine by his grandmother, a physician who cared for her village in the Czech Republic. Often paid with eggs or meat from her patients’ farms, she remains the village matriarch even after retirement.

β€œI saw what she means to her community,” says Dostal, who comes to ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ from the University of Washington. β€œAnd I wanted to do the same thing for my community.”

Dostal was one of 120 new ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ College of Medicine students who received their white coats Monday in a traditional celebration that welcomes them as partners in healthcare.

Chosen from 5,422 applicants, the 120 new M.D. candidates received their undergraduate degrees from Yale, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Duke, Case Western and Emory in addition to ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½. They include scientists, artists, musicians, athletes, global volunteers and EMTs.

A group of students wearing white coats and posing for a photo
ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½’s M.D. Class of 2030 includes scientists, community volunteers, first responders, athletes and artists.

Monday was the 18th White Coat Ceremony in the history of the medical school, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. In his welcome, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ President Alexander N. Cartwright described β€œwhat began as a bold vision on undeveloped land in Lake Nona has grown into a thriving Academic Health Sciences Campus and a community focused on improving lives.”

And he credited that growth to Deborah German, vice president for health affairs and founding dean, who has announced her transition from both roles. Monday was her last White Coat Ceremony.

β€œDr. German helped transform an ambitious vision into the college you join today,” he told students, parents, faculty and staff. β€œBecause of her leadership, hundreds of physicians have begun their careers here, thousands of patients have been served, and new partnerships, discoveries, and opportunities have taken shape across Lake Nona and our state. Dr. German, your remarkable legacy will always hold a special place at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½.”

The Good Doctor

For every White Coat Ceremony, German has conducted the first class of medical school called β€œThe Good Doctor – A ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Tradition.”

Dean Deborah German conducts the first class of medical school at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ β€” The Good Doctor, a ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Tradition.
Dean Deborah German conducts the first class of medical school at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ β€” The Good Doctor, a ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Tradition.

She asks first-year students to imagine the person they love most in the world is seriously ill with an undiagnosed condition. What are the traits they want to see in the doctor caring for their beloved? As students name attributes, German writes each word on a blackboard that is displayed in the College of Medicine atrium for the entire year.

The class of 2030 suggested 38 traits, including humble, trustworthy, dedicated, knowledgeable, ethical, determined, compassionate, resilient and innovative.

β€œThis is your contract with your faculty, friends, family, community and each other,” German said, pointing to the board. β€œAlways remember, The Good Doctor lives in each of you. With the guidance of the faculty and your own hard work, you will become The Good Doctor.”

Nelson Jones with his family, including both parents who are nurses and inspired him to go into medicine.
Nelson Jones with his family, including both parents who are nurses and inspired him to go into medicine.

Inspired to Care for Others

As a ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ undergraduate, Nelson Jones earned the Order of Pegasus, the university’s top student honor. Today he is a physician-in-training. Both of his parents are nurses, and he described how their care of others – especially in communities of need – inspired him. So did the opportunities ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ provides.

β€œI’m feeling extremely grateful and excited,” he said after receiving his white coat. β€œThis university has built me into the person I am and will continue to build me into the physician I strive to become.”

Vivian Silva-Dallenbach graduated from the University of South Florida with degrees in biomedical sciences and astronomy. She chose ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ for medical school because of the college’s new aerospace medicine program. She’s researched how space flight affects the human body.

β€œOnce I saw that ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ has an aerospace medicine program, I knew it was a match,” she says. β€œI’m particularly interested in women’s health and how we can provide specialized care for female astronauts.”

Dev Patel, another ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ alum, says his dreams are inspired by the College of Medicine’s founding dean. β€œI would like to take a page out of German’s book. She started with almost nothing to work with and she built something amazing here. So as we have such a long road in front of us, I’m hoping to follow in her footsteps and even have a fraction of the impact she did.”