UConn School of Medicine’s Class of 2029 is here. These aspiring future doctors are now ready to embark on their careers in medicine wearing their brand-new white coats.

On August 22 UConn’s medical school hosted the inspiring traditional White Coat Ceremony. Each year this annual milestone welcomes the incoming class of medical students and marks the exciting start of their four-year medical school journey.

“Welcome to UConn! All 114 of you are our largest medical school class ever!” proudly exclaimed Dr. Bruce T. Liang, dean of UConn School of Medicine. “Our White Coat Ceremony is your first major milestone in medical school. Today, we are here to celebrate all you have accomplished. You really deserve to be here.”

The Class of 2029 medical students were competitively selected from over 5,400 applicants, which is a pool of over 1,000 more applicants above last year. 68 percent of students in the Class of 2029 are from Connecticut and 35 percent attended UConn as undergraduates. UConn School of Medicine is proudly the number one producer of doctors and surgeons for the state. Statewide, over 30 percent of School of Medicine graduates and its trained resident physicians practice medicine in Connecticut.

Liang shared, “You will be part of our health care heroes. The future starts right now today with your new white coat!”

At the inspiring ceremony, each incoming first-year medical student received and put on for the first time their symbolic physician white coat.

“From this point on, you are not just a student, you are a future physician,” shared Dr. Marilyn Katz, assistant dean of Student Affairs for the School of Medicine in her address to the Class of 2029 surrounded by their families and faculty. “Best of luck to you as you launch your medical school journey. You are officially part of the UConn Husky Family.”

One of the many new medical students thrilled to be donning his white coat is former medical assistant Kush Kataria, 23, of Ellington, Conn. who attended Johns Hopkins as an undergraduate for his degree in chemistry. He chose UConn because of its emphasis on patient-centered care, cutting-edge research, and community advocacy.

“Wearing the white coat signifies a lifelong commitment to service,” says Kataria. “Patients will entrust me with their care and well-being at their most vulnerable moments, and with this great privilege comes great responsibility. Personally, it is incredibly rewarding to put on that white coat after years and years of hard work. It really took a whole village to get here, and I could not have done it without the support of my family, friends, and mentors.”

“I am super thrilled to start and can’t wait to learn medicine!” Kataria adds, “These first few days have been filled with many emotions. It feels incredibly motivating to walk into the hospital each morning and begin learning medicine and what it means to be a doctor. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity.”

Lukas Klin, 22, of Newington, could not wait to put on his white coat. He graduated from UConn Storrs and has worked as an Emergency Department scribe at nearby St Francis Medical Center. He is looking forward to medical school at UConn, working with patients, and having a direct impact on their health and happiness.

“The white coat represents all the hard work that I have done to get to this point in my educational career,” shares Klin. “I decided to pursue a career in medicine because it allows me to help patients live healthy and happy lives while also satisfying my intellectual curiosity that I have for the human body.”

Klin’s attendance at UConn School of Medicine accomplishes his childhood dream.

“Growing up in Newington, CT, UConn Health is visible from the top of nearby Cedar Mountain, which I had to drive down every day on my way to school. As a high school student, I would envision myself making that drive down the mountain as a medical student attending UConn, pursuing my life’s dream. I am still in shock every morning when I see the health center and realize that what I imagined for so many years has finally become my new reality!” Klin heartwarmingly shares.

Class of 2029’s Karen Martinez, 27, also from Newington is “beyond thrilled” to start medical school at UConn.

She earned her UConn undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering. While a UConn student she served as coordinator for the special student-powered UConn Health Leaders program that helps screen UConn Health patients and address their social determinants of health.

“Choosing UConn has allowed me to continue working with the UConn Health Leaders program and gain additional training through the Urban Service Track, giving me the opportunity to grow into a more well-rounded provider. UConn also has such a supportive community. Medical school offers me the opportunity to become an advocate and educator for many communities while also treating the entire patient and not just physical symptoms.”

The white coat represents a great deal to Martinez.

“Getting my white coat is extremely meaningful to me,” says Martinez. “As the first in my family to attend medical school, I see the white coat as a symbol of the culmination of all of my hard work, the challenges I have overcome, and the sacrifices that both my family and I have made to get to this point. It also symbolizes the privilege and responsibility I have to serve my community.”

Incoming UConn medical student Bria Slater, 22, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, is “ecstatic” to start medical school and to put on her white coat.

“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for and it is the first step toward my career as a physician. I know I will look back on this as the moment where it truly began.”

Slater earned her bachelor of science degree in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Miami. This summer in advance of starting at UConn School of Medicine she had the exciting and inaugural opportunity to participate as an incoming medical student in the longstanding Summer Research Fellowship Program of the Health Career Opportunity Programs led by Dr. Marja Hurley.

“Putting on my white coat signifies the culmination of years of effort and the fulfillment of a goal I’ve had since childhood,” Slater exclaims.  “It represents both the responsibility I now hold and the beginning of a career path that I have long sought after.”

For Slater starting medical school at UConn feels surreal.

“After years of preparation, stepping into medical school feels like I am stepping into the future I’ve been working toward. I am ready to embrace the challenges ahead and make the most of this opportunity,” Slater says.

Slater chose UConn’s medical school because it allows her to combine her love of science with compassion and serving communities in need.

“I chose UConn because its values reflect my own, and it offers the training and environment that will help me grow into the physician I aspire to become,” says Slater. “My biggest hope is to grow into a physician who not only provides excellent care, but also makes patients feel seen and heard. At UConn, I am looking forward to learning from both faculty and patients in ways that will shape me into a compassionate, skilled, and well-rounded physician.”

UConn alum and pain management expert Dr. David Lam of the Class of 2018 who serves as president of the Medical Alumni Board shared his words of encouragement with the new medical students at their White Coat Ceremony. He spoke about how the white coat symbolizes such great promise and purpose.

“To the students, congratulations. Welcome! We believe in you. We can’t wait to see what kind of physician you will become. There is a whole UConn community rooting for your success!” concluded Lam.

Welcome Class of 2029!

Watch the recording of the UConn medical school White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2029