WVU Parkersburg hosts White Coat Ceremony to honor nursing students

 Parkersburg, W.Va. (February 16, 2024) — WVU Parkersburg hosted its Spring Nursing White Coat Ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 5:30 p.m., in the Mutli-Purpose Room.

The ceremony is the oldest, and most well-known, program of the Gold Foundation. The Arnold P. Gold Foundation established the White Coat Ceremony in 1993 at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons as a way to emphasize humanism in medicine at the very start of medical education.

While it may take different forms, the ceremony emphasizes the importance of humanistic patient care, defined as compassionate, collaborative and scientifically excellent healthcare, early in the nursing training and professional identity formation.

“We are so happy that you’ve joined us this evening to celebrate your student as they begin their journey to becoming a registered nurse,” said Director of Nursing Rebecca Duckworth.

The ceremony included greetings from Duckworth; Dr. David Lancaster, vice president of Academic Affairs; Caraline Lancaster, nursing student; and nursing program alumnus Lloyd Frazier. May M. Miller, MSN, RN and Heather Carter, MSN, RN presented the coats to the students.

The ceremony ended with students reading the Oath to Compassionate Patient Care to the audience.

 After the ceremony, students, friends and family were directed to the nursing hallway for Family Night, where guests caught a glimpse of what it’s like to be a nursing student and were invited into the nursing labs.

The Spring 2024 White Coat recipients included: Sofia Chloe Aliac; Amber Amick; Macey Anderson; Sophie Beattie; Paige Berkley; Shilyn Butcher; Carter Calvert; Ashlynn Dinnin; Alisha Dolly; Joyce Eddy; Samantha Fowler; Corinna Fullmer; Eian Grigsby; Charlene Haller; Grace Harper; Kennedy Harris; Logan Henthorn; Lydia Hostottle; Kayleigh Johnson; Rebecca Kalb; Rosella Lacey; Isabel Lynch; Ian Martin; Lauren McDonnell; Daphne Miner; Bianca Norman; Joseph Overbaugh; Kaylin Parsons; Rachel Phares; Karissa Reynolds; Michaela Rogers; Elaina Ross; Cierra Ruch; Tori Sigman; Avery Smith; Megan Snyder; Laci Stone; Elijah Thomas; Katelyn Tucker; Alvin Varghese; Elyssa West; Brayden Whited; Natalie Wood; Kayla Yeager; and Evelyn Yeager.