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2015 Clinician Ceremony

Faculty, students, and visitors gather at a reception after the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Student Clinician's Ceremony for the Class of 2017.
Faculty, students, and visitors gather at a reception after the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Student Clinician's Ceremony for the Class of 2017.

Forty-two students at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine officially transitioned into the clinical portion of their education in July. The annual Student Clinician’s Ceremony brought the students together with faculty members and residents to acknowledge successful completion of the first two years of the students’ classroom training as well as the significance of their upcoming clinical years.

Members of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017 file in and take their seats for the Student Clinician's Ceremony.
Members of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017 file in and take their seats for the Student Clinician's Ceremony.
Members of the administration of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Members of the administration of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine take their places at the front of the room and watch as members of the Class of 2017 process in for the Student Clinician's Ceremony.
Dean Cynda Johnson of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine speaks to the Class of 2017 during the Student Clinician's Ceremony.
Dean Cynda Johnson of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine speaks to the Class of 2017 during the Student Clinician's Ceremony.

Members of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017 take part in heir Student Clinician's Ceremony. The team "Putting on Your Own White Coat' reflected on how the students are now ready to relate with patients in a clinical environment. (David Hungate for VTC)

Dr. Tracey Criss, Dean Cynda Johnson, and Dr. Kathy Dorey of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, and Dr. Nathaniel Bishop of the Jefferson College of Health Sciences
Dr. Tracey Criss, Dean Cynda Johnson, and Dr. Kathy Dorey of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, and Dr. Nathaniel Bishop of the Jefferson College of Health Sciences speak during the Class of 2017's Student Clinician's Ceremony.

The ceremony, titled, “Putting on Your Own White Coat,” is designed to provide guidance, information, and support by addressing some of the anxiety students may feel upon entering their clerkships. The ceremony also emphasizes the challenges and imperatives to providing humanistic care to patients.

Charles J. Schleupner, MSc, MD
Charles J. Schleupner, MSc, MD, professor of internal medicine, was the keynote speaker for the event. He delivered a healthy dose of good advice for the students as they enter the next phase of their training.
Medical student Francis Bustos of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017
Medical student Francis Bustos of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017 takes part in the Student Clinician's Ceremony.
Class President Christopher McLaughlin and Dr. Bruce Johnson read the Teacher-Learner Compact as part of the ceremony.
Class President Christopher McLaughlin and Dr. Bruce Johnson read the Teacher-Learner Compact as part of the ceremony.
Dr. Cynda Johnson (left) and medical student Tarangi Sutaria (Class of 2017) of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine take part in the Student Clinician's Ceremony.
Dr. Cynda Johnson (left) and medical student Tarangi Sutaria (Class of 2017) of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine take part in the Student Clinician's Ceremony.
Medical student Daniel Krakauer
Medical student Daniel Krakauer of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017 takes part in the Student Clinician's Ceremony.
Christopher McLaughlin, president of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017, takes part in the Student Clinician's Ceremony.
Christopher McLaughlin, president of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017, takes part in the Student Clinician's Ceremony.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Charles Schleupner, a professor of internal medicine at the school, delivered a healthy dose of wisdom he had gathered from medical colleagues and his own experiences as a physician. His insights included the following:

  • Seek the advice and accept the help of nurses. This is very important. Nurses are your partners.

  • Always recognize your strengths and shortcomings. Your patients can suffer if you’re not reflective.

  • Ask your patients to recount the history of their lives. This will make a huge difference in your relationships with your patients.

  • Consider stopping by your patients’ hospital room before you leave for the day. This is an important demonstration of caring both ‘for’ and ‘about’ your patients.

  • Reflect regularly. You will be a better person in life and a better physician to your patients if you are reflective.

  • Always act honorably on behalf of your patients.

  • It is vital to keep up with ever-expanding scientific knowledge. This will improve the care we render our patients.

Schleupner closed by reminding the students that a lifetime of interacting and caring for patients is a privileged opportunity.

The ceremony was supported by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

Dean Cyndia Johnson and student Hillary McClintic visit at a reception after the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017 Student Clinician's Ceremony.
Dean Cyndia Johnson and student Hillary McClintic visit at a reception after the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017 Student Clinician's Ceremony.
Faculty members gather during a reception after the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017 Student Clinician's Ceremony.
Faculty members gather during a reception after the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017 Student Clinician's Ceremony.
Members of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017 are recognized with Letters of Distinction during the Student Clinician's Ceremony.
Members of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017 are recognized with Letters of Distinction during the Student Clinician's Ceremony.
Dean Cynda Johnson stands with four Carilion Clinic resident physicians who were recognized for outstanding contributions by the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017.
Dean Cynda Johnson stands with four Carilion Clinic resident physicians who were recognized for outstanding contributions by the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2017.