On September 5, in a ceremony marking the beginning of their dental studies, the 233 members of the Class of 2010 donned their white coats for the first time. Faculty members helped the students into their coats in an act symbolizing NYUCD’s commitment to student-faculty partnerships.

In his remarks, Interim Dean Richard I. Vogel urged the entering students to wear their white coats — the uniform of the dentist — with pride, and to recognize the sacred trust associated with the white coat. “As you take on the mantle of becoming a dentist,” he said, “you assume a humanistic as well as a clinical responsibility for the well being of your patients. That responsibility means serving patients in the most ethical manner and with their well-being foremost in mind. I promise you that following this path will bring you lifetime satisfaction in having chosen to pursue a career in dentistry.”