KNUST Celebrates Inaugural White Coat Ceremony for Medical and Dental Students
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has marked a significant milestone with the inaugural white coat ceremony for students of the Schools of Medical Sciences and Dentistry.
The event which symbolizes the transition from preclinical to clinical education saw 360 medical and dental students take a significant step into their clinical journey.
The KNUST Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. David Asamoah in his speech underscored the significance of the ceremony.
“The white coat is not just a symbol of your advancement into clinical practice, it represents the trust that society places in you”.
He urged them to wear the coat with pride, emphasizing the values of integrity, excellence, and compassion that are central to the medical profession.
“Approach this new chapter with humility and curiosity,” he added.
As the students donned their white coats the Dean of the School of Medical Sciences (SMS), Prof. Akwasi Antwi- Kusi encouraged them to learn directly from experienced physicians.
“Be patient and learn directly from experienced physicians, remember that this is not just a transition but a transformation,” he noted.
Prof. Benjamin Obukowho Emikpe, Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, KNUST who spoke on behalf of the Provost, adviced students to pay attention to details as the ceremony ushers them into the medical profession.
According to him, “mistakes are not allowed in medicine, this is about attending to people and life, take notes of every detail you encounter in your clinical year”
The guest speaker, Prof. Peter Donkor emphasized the critical importance of patient confidentiality.
“It is important to safeguard your patient’s information, you’re expected to respect your client’s confidentiality as health professionals,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the Dean of the School of Medical Sciences (SMS), Prof. Akwasi Antwi-Kusi provided an overview of this year’s admission process, revealing that, “out of 5,000 applicants, 1040 were shortlisted to attend an interview and only 260 candidates were selected due to lack of infrastructure to accommodate students.
The limited lecture theatres also propelled the fourth year students to take lectures on campus instead of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH)”.
According to the Dean, the alumni is currently raising funds to build a new 340 seater lecture theater with 20 seminar rooms and offices to support the growing number and improvethe learning of medical students.
He appealed to all stakeholders, including government and alumni to support the project.
