SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Sept 18: Though the classes for the first-year MBBS professionals of the 2023-24 batch have already started from September 1, the three medical colleges, Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH) Dhanbad, Phulo Jhano Medical College Hospital (PJMCH) Dumka and Medinirai Medical College Hospital (MMCH) Palamu, would hold a White Coat Ceremony after the completion of admission process on September 30.
However, the state government-owned two other medical colleges Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital (MGMMCH) Jamshedpur and Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) Hazaribagh celebrated it after the start of classes on September 1.
The White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage for medical students. During the ceremony, a white coat is placed on each student’s (First-year MBBS professional) shoulder and often Charak (Hippocratic) Oath is administered. The ceremony is a symbol of students’ entrance into the medical profession.
MGMMCH principal Dr KN Singh said that his institution celebrated it on September 6 in which besides the new batch students, all the professors, teachers and coordinator DN Mahto were present. “The students were made aware of the importance of ‘White Coat Ceremony’ in their upcoming professional life,” said the principal.
SBMCH Hazaribagh organized the ceremony on September 5. Principal Dr SK Singh along with senior faculty members of the institution presented the ‘White Coat’ to the first-year MBBS professionals and briefed them about its significance in the medical profession.
Dr Arun Kumarn Choudhary, principal of Phulo Jhano Medical College Hospital (PJMCH) Dumka, when contacted on Monday, said that his institution would hold the ceremony after the completion of the admission process on September 30.
“So far some seats are still vacant and that would be filled up by September 30 (the last date of admission fixed by the National Medical Commission). So, rather than holding in two parts, we have decided to hold together with all 100 students,” said Dr Choudhary.
SNMMCH Dhanbad principal Dr Jyotiranjan Prasad and admission in-charge Dr Ganesh Kumar said that the ceremony would be organized on October 5, after all the students take admission.
Dr Atul Prakash, admission-in-charge of MMCH Palamu said that the date has not been fixed so far/ The ceremony would be organized after consultation with the principal, he added.
