Largest Class of Alaska WWAMI Medical Students Celebrated at Historic White Coat Ceremony

by WWAMI | September 19, 2023

WWAMI Class — Alaska WWAMI's largest incoming class of medical students pose for a photo outside of the Alaska Native Heritage Center after receiving their white coats at the White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Sept, 15, 2023. (Vicki Nechodomu/UAA College of Health)

The state’s public medical school partnership, WWAMI, which has trained the next generation of Alaska physicians for 51 years, celebrated its largest incoming class of 25 students at its annual White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center.

The medical student cohort represents 12 different communities across Alaska, including Juneau, Ketchikan, Seward, Kodiak, and Nome. They received the iconic white coats from their mentors following their completion of orientation to medical school and the first two weeks of clinical skills training. This is the first doctor’s white coat they’ll receive to wear throughout medical school.

The white coat is one of the most recognizable symbols in medicine. Since its inception at the turn of the 20th century it has signified life, hope, and healing; and perhaps most important, the responsibility to care for patients.

“We’re very excited to welcome Alaska WWAMI’s class of 2023 to the University of Alaska Anchorage campus,” said Kathy Young, MD, Foundations Dean for the Alaska WWAMI program at UAA. “During Clinical Immersion, students learn how to take a basic patient history and do a physical exam, so once they receive their coats, they are ready to see patients alongside their college mentor or a primary care physician right away. It’s very empowering and makes a difference in how quickly students understand clinical skills.”

The Alaska Native Heritage Center is an Anchorage institution that helps expands knowledge about the various cultural groups in Alaska, including Alaska’s Indigenous population. The unique venue choice reflects recent efforts made between the University of Alaska Anchorage and the Alaska WWAMI program to be accessible to different areas, cultures, and people throughout Alaska. Alaska WWAMI students participate in clinical rotations in rural and remote places throughout the state, including Soldotna, Yakutat, and Naknek.

Dr. Kathy Young, MD, Foundations Dean for the Alaska WWAMI program at UAA, addresses the incoming class of 25 students at the annual WWAMI School of Medicine White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. (Vicki Nechodomu/College of Health)
Alaska WWAMI's largest incoming cohort of first year medical studentat strike a "silly" pose at the annual WWAMI School of Medicine White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. (Vicki Nechodomu/College of Health)
First year medical student Masa Abaza poses with her family at the annual WWAMI School of Medicine White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. (Vicki Nechodomu/College of Health)
First year medical student Katie Powers poses for photos with her guests at the annual WWAMI School of Medicine White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. (Vicki Nechodomu/College of Health)
First year medical student Maille Moriarty poses with her guests at the annual WWAMI School of Medicine White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. (Vicki Nechodomu/College of Health)
A group of first year medical students pose with one another wearing their newly issued white coats and stethoscopes at the annual WWAMI School of Medicine White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. (Vicki Nechodomu/College of Health)
First year medial student Julia Merritt poses with her guests at the annual White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. (Vicki Nechodomu/College of Health)
First year medical student Kari Hahn celebrates the occasion with her children at the annual White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. (Vicki Nechodomu/College of Health)
First year medical student Erica Stewart celebrates the occasion with her guests at the annual White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. (Vicki Nechodomu/College of Health)
Heesook Kim, mother of first year medical student Chanmi Joo, tries her daughter's white coat on at the annual White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. (Vicki Nechodomu/College of Health)