The Journey Begins: LKCMedicine Freshmen Don Their White Coats

LKCMedicine welcomed its latest cohort of 190 future doctors at the White Coat Ceremony 2026, a milestone event that marked the beginning of their journey into reading medicine. The ceremony, held on 12 August 2026 at NTU Singapore’s Nanyang Auditorium, brought together students, faculty, families and guests to usher in the Class of 2031 as they received their white coats.

In her welcome remarks, Associate Professor Faith Chia, Vice-Dean (Education) at LKCMedicine, set the tone for the Class of 2031’s journey by balancing a call to excellence with a reminder to stay grounded in life beyond the wards.

“Medicine is demanding and medical school can easily become all-consuming. Work hard and take all the opportunities that come your way but also meet people whose lives and interests are different from yours. Allow yourself over these five years to grow, not just as a future doctor but as a person because life is bigger than medicine and all your experiences will shape you as a doctor who eventually meets a patient at the bedside. To the Class of 2031, today you put on your white coats for the first time. Let it remind you of the promises that you make today and know that all of us gathered here are committed to walk this journey with you,” said Assoc Prof Chia. 

Professor Joseph Sung, Dean of LKCMedicine, reminded students in his keynote address to reflect on the significance of donning a white coat -- it is not a reward, but a reminder of what society expects of doctors. Turning to the future of healthcare, Prof Sung acknowledged that technology and artificial intelligence (AI) will reshape many aspects of practice.

Yet, he stressed, “One day, the white coat itself may no longer be the defining symbol of medicine. Artificial intelligence will undoubtedly change how medicine is practised. But one thing must never change – patients must always know that when they meet a doctor, they are meeting someone who is competent enough to treat them, honest enough to tell them the truth, humble enough to keep learning, and compassionate enough to care. In an extraordinary age of AI, the greatest gift you bring to medicine is your humanity.”

Following the keynote address, Guest-of-Honour Ms Jennie Chua, Pro-Chancellor of NTU Singapore and Chairperson of Temasek Foundation, officially declared the White Coat Ceremony open, marking the formal start of the proceedings.

The programme continued with Professor Kwek Tong Kiat, Vice-Dean (Clinical Affairs) at LKCMedicine, who announced the conferment of the white coat and explained its symbolic meaning as a visible expression of the profession’s values and responsibilities.

White coats were then conferred on the students by Ms Jennie Chua, Prof Sung, House Tutors, Assistant Deans and clinicians from the School’s institutional partners, signifying the start of their journey as doctors-in-training. Assoc Prof Faith Chia led the students in reciting the ‘Declaration of a New Medical Student’, the School’s pledge for its freshmen.

A highlight of the programme was Year 2 student Aarushi Srivastava’s recital of a poem authored by fellow Year 2 student Chen Wei Quan, offering a personal reflection on the hopes and responsibilities that come with donning the white coat.

Professor Vernon Lee, Chief Executive Officer of the Communicable Diseases Agency, delivered the closing address, drawing on his own career in public health to offer the students practical guidance for the years ahead.

Recalling his first encounter with SARS in 2003, he said, “Being there in the trenches, seeing the impact of a single disease that took the lives of two of my colleagues, I made up my mind to devote my career to protecting Singapore and Singaporeans from infectious diseases. I did not design my career from the start. It would not have been possible as some things were unimaginable. I just pursued my passion and opportunities came because of it."

He urged students to embrace technology and AI while remembering that compassion remains at the heart of medicine: “All the knowledge in the world and all the AI computing power cannot replicate what it takes to be human.”

He encouraged them to keep learning, work together, care for their wellbeing and, above all, “never forget who you serve – the patients and the people.”

For the Class of 2031, the White Coat Ceremony marked the beginning of a medical journey shaped by different motivations, experiences and aspirations. Hear from the freshmen: 

“As I start my journey as a medical student, I know there is a vast mountain of knowledge, clinical skills, and sacrifices waiting for me. But as I take these first steps, the lesson that I hold closest is simple: behind every symptom and every diagnosis is a human being searching for clarity. And sometimes, the most powerful thing a physician can offer to patients is the willingness to walk alongside them into the unknown.” -- A M Aadhityaa, 21, Alexander Fleming House

“Doctors also have to be a beacon of hope for their patients. I’m only at the bottom of the mountain right now but I am ready to accept the uncertainty and determined to reach beyond my potential and achieve my dreams. I am very grateful that I have a big support system behind me which is my family who are always encouraging me to never stop trying.” -- Erina Firdous Mohamed Rabeek, 19, Wu Lien-Teh House

“The power in human connection far outweighs any modern medicine. I have come to appreciate the fragility of life, and even more so its sanctity. My interest in healthcare first bloomed with this realisation. A profession centred around the noble mission of preserving and improving lives, the meaningful work of the healthcare sector was one that resonated deeply with me.” -- Lee Kai Bin Ethan, 19, Cynthia Goh House

“Helping others is not always about solving their problems, but about consistently showing up and making them feel heard. I most look forward to taking part in Community Involvement Projects (CIPs) with my batchmates. I’ve been hearing from seniors on the multitude of ways we can reach out to both local and overseas communities through planning programmes and devoting our time. I believe I will have a lot to learn from the beneficiaries and other participants!”  -- Wang Xinyue, 19, William Osler House

“As someone who’s always loved the problem-solving aspect of science but equally enjoyed the very real human connection and conversation offered by the humanities, medicine is uniquely positioned at the dead-centre of the two, quenching both my thirsts. Together with my peers at LKCMedicine, I hope that we grow into future-ready pioneers, humanitarians and innovators for the medical world.” -- Khan Mohamed Mohamed Dhasil, 21, Alexander Fleming House