Skip to main content

Class of 2016 White Coat Ceremony


46 Earn White Coats at Annual White Coat Ceremony

On Friday, May 23, 2014 the College of Optometry held the annual White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2016.  The 46 member class were recognized for academic achievement and formally granted clinical privileges.  All 46 students passed the clinical privilege examination allowing them full access to seeing patients within one of our three UMSL clinics.   Many students look at the White Coat Ceremony as the halfway point to becoming an optometrist; a very important accomplishment prior to graduation in two years.  

Assistant Dean of Student Services Dr. Ed Bennett served as master of ceremonies and spoke about each student individually as they received their white coats as presented on stage by faculty members, Assistant Clinical Professor Dr. Angel Simmons and Associate Clinical Professor Dr. Thomas Landgraf. 

Dean Larry Davis spoke to the students, family and friends about the importance of the White Coat Ceremony and thanked the family and friends for understanding while their loved ones were busy studying and preparing for White Coat.  Dr. Carl Bassi, Associate Professor, delivered the encouraging remarks to the class communicating the history of the white coat ceremony and the importance of earning the white coat.  Dr. Bassi also spoke about the passion you must have for the field of optometry and the hard work required in obtaining doctor status.
Class of 2016  (Photo Courtesy of Kristen Kramlich)
Upon completion of the coating of the Class of 2016, Dr. Angel Simmons led the charge of the Optometric Oath for the newly white-coated class.  Dr. Thomas Cullinane, a 1996 graduate of the College of Optometry represented the Missouri Optometric Association (MOA) and spoke to the class about becoming involved in the MOA and he also presented each student with a MOA pin after they were coated. The Missouri Optometric Association donated the embroidered white coats to the Class of 2016.

Current fourth year student, Dana Rozell ('15) was chosen by the Class of 2016 to deliver the student remarks to the class.  Rozell spoke to the students about the journey ahead and the importance of staying passionate for the field of optometry. 

Students begin working in one of the three UMSL clinics during the summer and throughout their third year of optometry school.

Comments

  1. Pazzta TaliAugust 25, 2014 at 3:03 AM

    I loved every minute of my wedding; the ceremony had several wow-factors - dark wood floors, strictly candlelight, a perfect room for an intimate wedding of 100.
    Wedding venues in San Antonio

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Heart of America: A Great Annual UMSL Tradition

The 56th Annual Contact Lens & Primary Care Congress presented by the Heart of America Contact Lens Society was, once again, a great success and represented a great opportunity for College of Optometry students and residents to network, present posters, receive high quality continuing education, and help as monitors and graduates to have the opportunity to see their classmates and enjoy, not only the expansive exhibit hall but also customize their education based upon the five tracks of courses given simultaneously.  The faculty included two UMSL graduates, Drs. Rebecca Wartman(‘87) and Shane Kannarr(‘00) and Assistant Dean, Dr. Ed Bennett.  Likewise, the Heart of America Board of Directors had a significant UMSL presence with Drs. Sean Mulqueeny(‘91), Wes DeRosier(‘96) and President Craig Brawley(‘01).  Dr. Delaram “Deli” Shirazian(’16), currently completing the Kansas City Veteran’s Administration Medical Center residency program, was a recipient of a $2,000 grant from
4 comments
Read more

Student Completes PhD in Vision Science

PhD Student in Vision Science Leaves Mark at UMSL-College of Optometry   Dr. Christopher Putnam Our vision for our future is only as bright as our dedication to achieving our goals and experiences.  On the fourth floor Marillac hall is an office; it’s not a faculty office, but a graduate office, a room for the last three years that has been occupied day and night and even on the weekends by one man, Dr. Christopher Putnam.   Dr. Putnam is not only an optometrist, but also a major with the United States Air Force. Major Christopher Putnam, OD, FAAO began his journey at UMSL-College of Optometry in August 2011 as a member of the PhD Vision Science program under the direction of Research Professor, Dr. Carl Bassi.  His journey to UMSL has taken him all across the country and now he is beginning the end of his PhD in Vision Science and he will be the last student at UMSL to take part in this program. The road to UMSL began in September 1996 at South Dakota University where h
Post a Comment
Read more

Patient Care Center Grand Opening and Continuing Education Event a Success

The Patient Care Center has been open to the public since mid-September and recently celebrated the Grand Opening ceremony on Friday, November 4 and also a continuing education program on November 5, 2016. The Grand Opening ceremony included keynote speakers, Dean Larry Davis, Laurie Thompson (’16), Barbara Brown (’88), and Chancellor Thomas George.     The event attracted many present and former UMSL administrators, including former Chancellor Blanche Touhill. Several political leaders attended to celebrate the grand opening. Dr. Thompson and her husband, Chris, traveled from their home in Colorado, specifically for this occasion. Thompson was an instrumental student leader whose efforts were important in gaining student approval to fund the project.   Following the grand opening event on Saturday, the college hosted a five-hour specialty contact lens symposium with lectures on gas permeable and presbyopic lenses from UMSL faculty members, Ed Bennett, Julie DeKinder
4 comments
Read more