By Ken Jacob – DWU Journalism Student
Thirty second-year students from the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) program under the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Divine Word University’s Madang Campus received new white lab coats during a special White Coat Ceremony held yesterday at Alexishafen in Madang Province.
This year marks the 9th White Coat Ceremony for the MBBS department, with the first held in 2017.
The ceremony marks a major step in their medical training, as they move from pre-clinical studies to hands-on clinical learning under supervision.
Apart from their white coats, the students also received basic diagnostic equipment, including stethoscopes, manual blood pressure machines, thermometers, and reflex hammers. These tools will support them during practical sessions and hospital placements.
MBBS department head, Professor Jerzy Kuzma, praised the students for their discipline, resilience, and commitment, stating their achievement is a reflection of their determination to grow into responsible and compassionate future doctors.
He told them that this is only the beginning of a long journey in medicine, emphasizing the difficulty of the programs as it prepares students for the workforce in saving human lives.
Professor Kuzma reminded the students that what they are learning is not just for exams, but for life.
He said they should always remember why they chose to become doctors in the first place, because that reason will help them stay strong and motivated when things get tough.
