Holly Pittard of Goldsboro was nervous and excited Friday in anticipation of joining 81 other men and women who received their white clinic coats, signifying the start of four years of study at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.

I grew up around the health care field and I know there is a lot of improvement that can be made and a lot of good to be accomplished, Pittard said.

The Brody Class of 2021 individually received their white coats on stage as family and friends watched during a ceremony hosted by the faculty and new medical school dean, Dr. Mark Stacy.

This is your day, Stacy told the students.The white coat ceremony is designed to establish a contract for the practice of medicine, emphasizing the the importance of compassionate care for the patient while bringing scientific proficiency to the bedside.

The act of a teacher cloaking a student with a white coat underscores the bonding process between the student and the medical professional presenting the coat, a personally delivered gift of faith, confidence and compassion, Stacy said.

It is personally placed on your shoulders by individuals who believe in you and believe in your ability to carry on the noble tradition of doctoring, he told the entering class members. On those days when you wonder, Why do they believe in me? remember only that we believe in you and keep going.

Dr. William Burke, a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, division chief of dermatology and member of the Brody Schools second medical class in 1982, offered the students some advice in his keynote address.

I believe there are only four things you need to be a good doctor; being brilliant is good but its not a requirement, Burke said.What you need is to put your patients first, be honest, be empathetic and compassionate about your patients and their diseases and you need to know your limitations and not be afraid to get advice from other doctors.

Burke reminded the students that their grades still matter if they want to get accepted into quality residency programs after medical school, but he also advised them to nurture their own health along with their patients, suggesting they take some time to enjoy the attractions of eastern North Carolina while studying here.

Pittard, whose mother also is a physician, said she will pursue a career specialty in primary care and family medicine, music to the ears of Brody administrators and faculty. The schools continuing mission since its establishment in 1974 is to increase the supply of primary care physicians to serve the state and to improve the health status of citizens in eastern North Carolina.Much of the students clinical training occurs away from Brody in rural health care settings across the states eastern region.

A third mission for Brody is to enhance the access to a medical education for minority and disadvantaged students. Of the schools 82 entering students, 24 (29 percent) are non-Caucasian, and 52 percent are women.

Dr. Elizabeth Baxley, senior associate dean for Academic Affairs, said she saw great promise in the Class of 2021 at a time of change and challenge for Brody and health care generally.

This group is going to set the way for the future; its a tremendous class, the third-most competitive class in our history, Baxley said.We have a great new dean and 82 bright new students and a lot of commitment from faculty and staff to make sure these students are successful. I see a lot of hope for the future here.

Contact Michael Abramowitz at mabramowitz@reflector.com.

Quick facts about the Brody School of Medicine Class of 2021

All 82 students are North Carolina residents. They were selected from 1,008 applicants and represent 30 counties from Macon in the west to Beaufort in the east, and 23 different undergraduate institutions.

The class is 48 percent male and 52 percent female.

Ages range from 21 to 31, with the average being 24.

Twenty-nine percent (24 students) are non-Caucasian.

The class boasts an average undergraduate 3.6 grade point average. Thirteen students completed graduate coursework, and they averaged a 3.8 GPA. While 42 students majored in biology, there are also African American studies, computer science and business administration students in the class.

Nineteen students are children of doctors. Two are the children of Brody School of Medicine graduates. One is the sibling of a current Brody School of Medicine student.

Students will earn a medical doctor degree at the Brody School of Medicine before going on to residencies additional years of medical training in various specialties.

The first 20 months of medical school at Brody are classroom-based and encompass foundational sciences including core science coursework, bioethics and an introduction to doctoring, which features clinic-based primary care experience.The third year consists of a series of predetermined clinical clerkships, and the fourth year allows for more individualized clinical experiences.

More here:

New class takes places in medical school tradition - Greenville Daily Reflector