White Coat Ceremony Marks Key Milestone for SLP Class of 2026
Speech-Language Pathology Students Honored as They Begin Their Clinical Journey
Marking a pivotal moment in their educational journey, speech-language pathology (SLP) students from the Class of 2026 proudly donned their white coats for the first time. The SLP White Coat Ceremony, in the John W. Nevins, M.D. '44, Auditorium on April 7, was a celebration filled with joy and a sense of accomplishment.
An enthusiastic audience, including friends, family, respected faculty, and leaders from the School of Health Sciences and Practice (SHSP), gathered to celebrate the commitment and hard work of the 33 SLP students. By taking this step, they transitioned to the clinical phase of their curriculum and the beginning of their professional careers.
The ceremony opened with an engaging address by Vikas Grover, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, and chief and professor in the Division of Speech-Language Pathology. He encouraged students to embrace discomfort as part of their journey. “You stepped out of your comfort zone when you sat in your first class and thought, ‘This is difficult,’” he said. “Yet you stayed, pushed through, and said, ‘This is difficult but I’ll make it.’”
The ceremony continued with Robert W. Amler, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the SHSP and vice president for government affairs, offering words of praise, saying, "When you put on your white coat for the first time, there’s no question that you feel different,” he remarked. “This vestment of trust, competence, and dedication becomes part of you.”
Words of inspiration also came from invited speaker Sankaran Krishnan, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP, chief of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy, Immunology, and Sleep Medicine, and associate professor of pediatrics and public health at NYMC. “You are just at the beginning of your journey, but this is going to take you places that you would not have even imagined.” Following Dr. Krishnan, alumni speakers Anastasiya Lysenko, M.S., CCC-SLP ‘24, and Samantha Walker, M.S., CCC-SLP ’20, shared their personal experiences and how the program helped shape their careers.
Hearts full of pride and anticipation, the students donned their white coats with help from the supportive SLP faculty. Wearing their newly earned symbols of professionalism, they rose together to recite the Pledge for Speech-Language Pathology with conviction, led by Monica McHenry, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, professor of speech-language pathology.
With the ceremony drawing to a close, it left a lasting impression on all in attendance, shining a light on the exciting paths that lie ahead for the SLP Class of 2026.
Videos of the SLP White Coat Ceremony are available on the NYMC YouTube Channel.
