White Coat Ceremony
The White Coat Ceremony marks a significant milestone in the journey of every nursing student at Saint Louis University-Madrid — the moment they formally enter the world of healthcare. The presentation and cloaking of the white coat, a universally recognized symbol of the health professions, represent both a commitment to clinical excellence and a promise to uphold the values of compassion, integrity, and service that define the nursing profession.
The first White Coat Ceremony was held in 1993 at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, an initiative created by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation. Dr. Arnold P. Gold introduced the tradition to emphasize that medical education should nurture not only the scientific and technical skills required of healthcare professionals, but also the humanistic qualities of empathy, respect, and compassion. Since then, the ceremony has been embraced by nursing and medical schools across the world, including SLU-Madrid, serving as a powerful reminder that at the heart of healthcare lies human connection.
At Saint Louis University, a Jesuit institution rooted in the pursuit of truth and service to others, the White Coat Ceremony carries special meaning. It symbolizes the blending of academic preparation and ethical formation — hallmarks of SLU's mission to educate the whole person. During the event, each student is formally cloaked with the white coat by faculty members, signifying their entry into the healthcare profession. This moment celebrates not only the knowledge they have gained, but also the responsibilities they are about to assume in caring for patients and communities.
The ceremony also includes the recitation of an oath, modeled after the Hippocratic Oath, through which students pledge to uphold the highest standards of ethical practice, respect patient dignity, and commit themselves to lifelong learning. The words of the oath reinforce the dual responsibility of healthcare professionals: to maintain scientific proficiency and to practice with empathy, humility, and compassion.
For students at SLU-Madrid, the ceremony reflects the university's global mission and Jesuit values. Nursing is more than a profession — it is a calling to serve others, to accompany those in need, and to advocate for the vulnerable. Through this ceremony, students commit to living out the mission of the School of Nursing: to promote quality healthcare for individuals, families, and communities, and to work toward the alleviation of ignorance, poverty, injustice, and hunger.
The White Coat Ceremony is both a celebration and a charge. It honors the hard work students have already undertaken and challenges them to approach their future patients with competence, respect, and compassion. It also represents the beginning of a lifelong connection to a community of healthcare professionals and mentors who will guide and support them throughout their careers. As they wear the white coat for the first time, students are reminded that every patient encounter is an opportunity to demonstrate the values of cura personalis — care for the whole person — that lie at the heart of Jesuit education.
SLU-Madrid is proud to celebrate this special moment, marking the students' commitment to excellence, professionalism, and service for and with others, continuing SLU's enduring tradition of preparing compassionate leaders in healthcare.