PIKEVILLE — The University of Pikeville Kentucky-College of Osteopathic Medicine (KYCOM) formally welcomed members of the Class of 2028 during a traditional White Coat Ceremony on Sept. 28 at the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg.

White coat ceremonies are rites of passage for beginning medical students, welcoming them to the profession and reinforcing the value of humanism as a foundation of medicine. The ceremony encourages a psychological contract for professionalism and empathy in the practice of medicine. Medical students are bound by the same professional commitments that bind all physicians.

“Today you embrace the mantle of professionalism symbolized by this ceremony,” said Joe Kingery, D.O., MBA, FACOFP, FAAFP, dean of KYCOM. “As you develop the knowledge and skills necessary to become outstanding osteopathic physicians your experiences, both academic and clinical, will shape you into the compassionate healers you were meant to be.”

Jody Johnson, D.O. Johnson, a native of Eastern Kentucky who graduated from KYCOM in 2001 and has 20 years of experience in surgery, including a fellowship in advanced laparoscopic surgery, delivered the keynote address. A dedicated educator and board-certified surgeon, he taught at KYCOM and has served on its board of trustees since 2010. After relocating to Louisiana in 2018, he transitioned to cosmetic surgery, motivated by its impact on patients’ self-esteem. In June 2023, he opened Luxe Cosmetic Surgery in Alexandria, Louisiana, following a mini-fellowship at Pelosi Medical Center.

Johnson advised the student doctors to be generous with their time and talents with not just their patients but also their communities.

“Remember to take care of yourselves, stay grounded and remain committed to your community,” said Johnson. “In doing so you will not only become exemplary physicians but also the leaders and advocates our world so desperately needs.”