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First-year medical student Lauren Francisco of Lexington, Ky., was “coated” by second-year students Caralee Richardson Blair and Brian Allen during the traditional White Coat Ceremony at Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine (PCSOM) Aug. 26. White coat ceremonies are rites of passage for beginning medical students. The ritual encourages a psychological contract that emphasizes professionalism and empathy in the practice of medicine, and focuses on the importance of both scientific excellence and compassionate care for the patient. John Strosnider, D.O., president of the American Osteopathic Association and vice president and dean of PCSOM, was the keynote speaker for the event. The Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine opened in the fall of 1997 with 60 students. To date, the medical school has produced 338 physicians in six graduating classes. More than 90 percent of graduates have elected to enter primary care, and approximately 80 percent are practicing in medically-underserved areas.