WATCH: Burrell College to Welcome 100 Student Physicians During White Coat Ceremony at Clemente Center

Ceremony powerful reminder of what it means to pursue a life in medicine

WATCH:  Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine will welcome 100 new student physicians at their second White Coat Ceremony on Wednesday, July 16, at Florida Tech’s Clemente Center.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA — Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine will welcome 100 new student physicians at its second White Coat Ceremony on Wednesday, July 16, at Florida Tech’s Clemente Center.

The ceremony will honor the Class of 2029 as they take their first symbolic step into the medical profession.

The event will take place at 5 p.m. at the Florida Institute of Technology’s Clemente Center in Melbourne. The ceremony marks a key milestone for the first-year student physicians, representing their formal entry into the pre-clinical phase of their medical education.

“This ceremony is a powerful reminder of what it means to pursue a life in medicine,” said John Hummer, president and co-founder of Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine.

“We are proud to support these future physicians as they begin the next phase of their journey, and we are confident they will make a lasting impact in Florida and beyond.”

The White Coat Ceremony is a time-honored tradition across medical schools that signifies a student’s commitment to the practice of medicine and the communities they will one day serve. At Burrell College, it also reinforces the college’s mission to increase access to care in medically underserved areas, especially within the Space Coast region.

Burrell College’s Florida campus was established in 2024 to expand the school’s mission into Florida. Through local clinical partnerships and advanced simulation technology, the campus prepares students for the demands of modern medicine with a focus on community-based care.

“Donning the white coat is more than a symbolic gesture—it marks the beginning of a student physician’s responsibility to practice with compassion, professionalism, and lifelong curiosity,” said Dr. Doris Newman, Campus Dean of Burrell’s Florida location. “It is an honor to celebrate this moment alongside our students, faculty, and community partners.”

During the ceremony, each student will receive a white coat embroidered with their name and the Burrell College insignia. The event concludes with the recitation of the Osteopathic Oath, affirming the core values of empathy, respect, and holistic care.

To learn more about Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, CLICK HERE.

About Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine

Burrell is a four-year, private osteopathic, student-centered medical school utilizing the latest medical education technologies and methods to ensure student success in all fields of medicine. Burrell has two campuses, Las Cruces, NM, and Melbourne, FL.

The first campus was established in 2013 to improve the health of the Southwestern U.S. and its border with Northern Mexico. The second was established in 2024 to address the medical needs of the Space Coast region in Brevard County.

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