RSDM Welcomes Class of 2030 With White Coat Ceremony
Members of the Class of 2030, along with internationally educated dentists in the Class of 2028, received their white coats at an annual ceremony at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM). The two-decade-long tradition marks students' entry into the profession and the ethical commitment that comes with it.
“You have worked long and hard to reach this milestone, accomplishing something that very few ever achieve,” said Dean Cecile A. Feldman. “Each of you now holds a permanent place in the history of Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. … With this privilege of joining our Rutgers family, however, comes responsibility to protect it, honor it, and to build upon it.”
The Class of 2030 members hail from 13 countries and speak 25 different languages. More than half are women, and more than one-third have a family member who is a dentist. Nine have relatives who also studied at RSDM.
Keynote speaker Griffin Privitera, a member of the Class of 2026 and a pediatric dentistry resident at RSDM, reminded students that no one comes to dental school prepared and that the white coat symbolizes a lifetime of learning. “Over the next four years, you will learn countless procedures, memorize more information than you ever thought possible, and develop skills you never even knew you had. But some of the most important lessons you learn won’t come from a textbook or a lecture. They’ll come from the people you encounter along the way.” He urged students to invest in the people around them, including faculty, classmates, and patients, saying those relationships are what he remembers most from his time at RSDM. He also encouraged them to earn their patients' trust and to get involved in the community. “My hope is when your graduation day comes, you won’t measure your time in dental school by the grades you earned or the procedures you performed. I hope you’ll measure it by the lives you touched, the friendships you built, and the kind of dentist and person you became.”
Andrew Sullivan, the chair of the Periodontics Department, presented the RSDM Student Professionalism Award to Chloe Van Duyne of the Class of 2027. Van Duyne serves on the RSDM Honor Council, was a Foresight Leader guiding new students, and has mentored future dentists through the school’s pathway programs. An exemplary student herself, she is also a leader in the American Student Dental Association. “Her achievements reflect a dedication to excellence that extends across all aspects of her dental education,” said Sullivan. “Yet, what sets her apart is not simply what she accomplished, but how she has accomplished them.”
New Jersey Dental Association President Antoinette Tauk concluded the ceremony by leading the class in the dental oath.
