The School of Medicine celebrated the UVA Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (BIMS) Lab Coat Ceremony on April 14. This event marks the transition of our first-year BIMS students to the next phase of their graduate careers as they embark upon their mentored research projects.
“Imagine that one day your research findings may advance the understanding of human diseases and possibly be translated into state-of-the-art clinical care, or even more profound, … save a life. Your scientific career is a magnificent and meaningful endeavor,” stated Melina Kibbe, MD, Dean of the School of Medicine, in her address to the students. She encouraged the students in their journey of discovery, saying there will be moments of exhilaration and success; but also times of failure, which will drive them to persist in exploration and rigorous inquiry.
Sam Wachamo, a graduate student in Neuroscience, receives a white coat from his mentor, Alban Gaultier, PhD
A total of 55 students were recognized in the following disciplines: Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics (9), Biomedical Engineering (2), Biophysics and Physiology (4), Cell Biology (7), Experimental Pathology (4), Microbiology (14), and Neuroscience (13). The class is 64% female and 22% of the total students are from underrepresented minorities (URM).
During the presentation of coats, each student received a personally embroidered lab coat as a gift from the UVA Medical Alumni Association. To highlight the critical role of mentorship in our programs, faculty mentors for each discipline coated their students.
We also recognized the Medical Scientist Training Program students who completed their pre-clinical medical school classes and their Step 1 exams and transitioned to their research labs to begin the PhD portion of their studies.
In addition to Dean Kibbe, speakers included Janet V. Cross, PhD, Associate Dean for Graduate and Medical Scientist Programs; Barry Collins, Associate Dean for UVA Medical Alumni Affairs and Executive Director of the Medical Alumni Association and Medical School Foundation; and David Kashatus, PhD, Associate Professor of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology.
Following the ceremony, the students, families, and other guests enjoyed a reception in McLeod Courtyard. Congratulations to all!
