Practicing Compassion Through Communication and Collaboration: 2026 UCSF School of Medicine White Coat Ceremony
Members of the class of 2030 snap a selfie in front of San Francisco's iconic City Hall.
Joy, trepidation, and resolve mingled in the air as students lined the hallway of Herbst Theatre, waiting to take one of the first steps in their journeys as future physicians and scientists.
Throughout the ceremony, speakers reminded students that wearing the white coat carries responsibilities beyond acquiring medical knowledge: listening with curiosity, collaborating with others, and approaching patients and communities with humility and compassion.
The 180 students in the Class of 2030 received their white coats – a traditional rite of passage for new medical students – at a ceremony on August 7, 2026. Erick K. Hung, MD, Associate Dean for Students, and Anna Chang, MD, Associate Dean for Curriculum, read each student’s name as they crossed the stage, smiling and waving to their loved ones in the audience. Students were coated by Michelle A. Albert, MD, MPH, Associate Dean for Admissions, and Peter Chin-Hong, MD, Associate Dean for Regional Campuses.
The Class of 2030 arrived at UCSF through many different paths. Selected from more than 11,000 applicants, students described being drawn to UCSF by its academic excellence and genuine commitment to the people it serves.