Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Browse

The white coat: does it have a future in Ireland?

Download (214.16 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-08-02, 15:07 authored by Eoin Kelleher

The white coat and stethoscope are the most recognisable symbols of our profession. The white coat rose to popularity among surgeons because of its association with groundbreaking scientific achievements that characterised the 19th century. It came to be associated with science, cleanliness and professionalism. It maintained its popularity among the profession through tradition; symbols and traditions are important in all cultures, medicine being no different. ‘White coat ceremonies’ have become a rite of passage in modern medical schools. The first was held in Columbia University, New York in 1993, and spread to Ireland, with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) holding the first such ceremony (Figure 1). They are now a part of the culture in many medical schools on the island and elsewhere.

History

Comments

The original article is available at http://www.rcsismj.com/ Part of the RCSIsmj collection: https://doi.org/10.25419/rcsi.c.6773520.v1

Published Citation

Kelleher E. The white coat: does it have a future in Ireland? RCSIsmj. 2014;7(1):77-80

Publication Date

2014

Department/Unit

  • Undergraduate Research

Publisher

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Version

  • Published Version (Version of Record)

Usage metrics

    Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC