WHITE COAT CEREMONY 2019 AT TSMU

On September 20, 2019, the 7th annual White Coat Ceremony of the American MD Program was held at Tbilisi State Medical University. The ceremony is always remarkable. The White Coat is symbol of a successful and stainless medical career of physician.

Likely previous ceremonies, current White Coat Ceremony was much more pompous. The ceremony was opened with national anthems of Georgia and United States of America performed by the choir of National Dance and Song Ensemble at Cultural Center of Tbilisi State Medical University. Distinguished guests were greeted by the rector of Tbilisi State Medical University, Prof. Zurab Vadachkoria.

The first year students of American MD Program, Class of 2025 were greeted by distinguished guests: Elizabeth Rude - Charge d’Affairs, Mattew Scherer - Director of US Army Medical Research office in Georgia, invited from USA, Emory University: Dr. Gordon Churchward - Assistant Dean, Dr. Joel Felner – Professor Cardiology, Dr. Douglas Ander - Professor of Emergency Medicine, Leader of Interdisciplinary Studies, Zaza Bokhua - Undersecretary of Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, Nodar Maisuradze – Graduate student of American MD Program 2019. Traditionally distinguished guests coated new students with white coats and program’s symbols on it.

TSMU’s American MD Program Honorary Award for committing to program’s development was given to Walter Reed US Army Medical Research Office in Georgia, and to the first graduates of the program.

Vice - Rectors of Tbilisi State Medical University - Prof. Rima Beriashvili, Prof. Khatuna Todadze, Prof. Irakli Kokhreidze attended the ceremony. Among attendants there were academic and administrative personnel, foreigner guests and American MD Program students with their friends and family members.

The American MD Program was established at Tbilisi State Medical University in collaboration with Emory University School of Medicine. It has been working since 2013. Program’s structure gives possibility to the students to pass 2 STEPS of  United States Medical Licensing Examination time by time and get the clinical experience in United States of America. The program has already achieved success in this field. The first admission was 7 years ago. The first students graduated from the program in June 2019. 

In 2019-2020 academic year nearly 70 first year student were accepted on the program.

For video press the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IcTAb4TiEY