M.D. Class of 2010 Arrives on Campus

Sixty-two new freshman medical students, members of the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) class of 2010, began their medical education Aug. 7 at the University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine & Health Sciences. 

The 62 new freshman medical students range in age from 21 years to 42 years, with the average age being 24 years.  Half of the class members are women. 

These students come to the UND medical school with degrees in a variety of disciplines including biology, chemistry, anthropology, engineering and global studies.  

"It's always exciting when a new class of medical students arrives on campus," said Judy DeMers, associate dean for student affairs and admissions at the UND medical school.  "It's a brand new beginning and a whole world is opening up for them that they have never experienced before." 

Medical students' first week is dedicated to orientation, which includes an introduction to the four-year, patient-centered-learning curriculum.  Special emphasis is placed on the students' new roles as health care professionals and expectations of them as professionals. 

The students' orientation week concluded with the M.D. Class of 2010 White Coat Ceremony.  During the ceremony, students were "cloaked" in white coats, the traditional garment of the physician, which were donated by the North Dakota Medical Association.  They recited the Oath of Hippocrates, an ancient vow to uphold basic professional principles. 

Dr. Robert Beattie, professor and chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the medical school, presented the keynote address to the students, their families, friends, and faculty and staff.

Each student also received the book, "On Doctoring," edited by Drs. Richard Reynolds and John Stone and donated by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and a pin engraved with the words, "Humanism in Medicine," from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation. 

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