Caitlin Hokanson participated in the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine's White Coat Ceremony recently.
Hokanson is a member of the veterinary college's Class of 2014 and is the daughter of Bruce and Dorothy Hokanson of Jamestown.
"The white coat ceremony marks the transition of students from learning the language and scientific basis of medicine, to learning the art and science of the delivery of medicine," said Dr. Michael I. Kotlikoff, Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell. "Both elements are an essential part of medical education and an appropriate dose of each makes a good doctor. But in addition to the scientific and technical skills that are required to succeed, part of learning to be a good and effective doctor is learning to balance what you know with what your patients and clients need. Students with the most sophisticated and up-to-date knowledge of medicine will be poor doctors if they don't also learn how to use that knowledge for the benefit of their patients and clients."
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Caitlin Hokanson of Jamestown is pictured with other Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine students during a recent white coat ceremony.
During the ceremony, veterinarians and faculty who have provided mentorship to our students participated in the ceremony by coating the recipients. Hokanson was coated by Dr. Jon Cheetham. Similarly, family and friends who have provided support are asked to rise and be acknowledged at the time of coating.