White Coat Ceremony
The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford hosted its White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2019 on Saturday, October 1. The White Coat ceremony is a tradition that welcomes medical students into the profession of medicine and introduces them to the privileges and responsibilities of a physician. The White Coat was a vision of Dr. Arnold P. Gold, who created a foundation to work with physicians to instill a humanistic culture of respect, dignity and compassion for patients and professionals.
Alex Stagnaro-Green, MD, MHPE, Dean, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford; Mitchell King, MD, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Family Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford; Dr. William Gorski, CEO of SwedishAmerican A Division of UW Health; Errol Baptist, MD, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford; and Gary Fernando, MD, President of the Winnebago County Medical Society; coated the students. Dr. Gorski also delivered the keynote address.
The white coat and the 2016 University of Illinois College of Medicine White Coat Ceremony were sponsored by the Office of Student and Alumni Affairs thanks to the generosity of the Winnebago County Medical Society, an anonymous donor, and the many contributors to the Rockford Alumni Fund. The event also included the induction of 4th year students, nominated by their peers, into the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS). GHHS recognizes individuals who can serve as role models, mentors, and leaders in medicine. Dr. Baptist inducted the following students: Jenny Brown, Sarah Bunch, Tony Logli, Marco Martinez, Vanessa Nienhouse, Santiago Tovar, Ben Weger, and Lawrence Yen.
Class of 2019 students who received their White Coats included:
Kareem A. Allam, Newport Coast, California
Shane C. Anderson, Chrisman, Illinois
Clinton A. Bays, Charleston, Illinois
Erin E. Braun, Rockford, Illinois
Clinton C. Brubaker, Monticello, Illinois
Tatiana del P. Carranza, Los Angeles, California
John L. Csiha, Libertyville, Illinois
Ryan K. Dahlberg, Belvidere, Illinois
August J. Emford, Lena, Illinois
Maritza Y. Estrada, Mendota, Illinois
Salvador D. Fernandez, Blue Island, Illinois
Michael D. Foster, Macomb, Illinois
Nadia M. Froehling, Mount Vernon, Illinois
Sandra M. Giraldo, Queens, New York
Stephanie L. Grach, Chicago, Illinois
Theodore Guild, Concord, Massachusetts
Ezekiel D. Hartman, Lanark, Illinois
Hilary Hayssen, Orono, Minnesota
Adam M. Held, Charleston, Illinois
Dhairya Jarsania, Arlington Heights, Illinois
Abdusebur M. Jemal, Portland, Oregon
Katherine J. Jensen, Lena, Illinois
Jae H. Jung, Wheeling, Illinois
Lizabeth M. Kaeb, Morton, Illinois
Dakota R. Lammy, Hamburg, Illinois
Nicole E. Larsen, Chicago, Illinois
Alexander J. Lietz, Hoyleton, Illinois
Jeniffer E. Lima, Western Springs, Illinois
Alexis L. Llamas, Chicago, Illinois
Mary E. Lyvers, Lena, Illinois
Melissa Magallanes, Chicago, Illinois
Catherine Malewicz, Chicago, Illinois
Reny M. Mathew, Skokie, Illinois
Claire A. Maxey, Hereford, Arizona
Matthew W. McGath, Freeport, Illinois
Alison R. Mueller, Bartelso, Illinois
Christina M. Overmann, Franklin, Illinois
Carol Y. Park, Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Daniel R. Principe, Vernon Hills, Illinois
Bartlomiej Radzik, Norridge, Illinois
Christopher Rivard, Palatine, Illinois
Raymond P. Scheibel, University of Iowa
Matthew D. Schroeder, Yorba Linda, California
Michael Small, Hoyleton, Illinois
Nicole M. Tobin, Edelstein, Illinois
Cody L. Ward, Herrin, Illinois
William R. Weede, Elizabeth, Illinois
Tyler S. Wernecke, Decatur, Illinois
Hunter J. Winstead, Stillman Valley, Illinois
Samantha L. Winstead, Illinois City, Illinois
Blair E. Wright, Sandwich, Illinois
Julie D. Zhong, Bloomington, Illinois
Since 1972, the College of Medicine at Rockford has focused on building an academic medical institution committed to education, research and innovation, and clinical service in the surrounding communities. The College has become a center for internationally recognized research efforts funded through grants awarded by government agencies, private foundations and other resources