BIRMINGHAM, Alabama White coats, symbolic of their future in the medical profession, were donned today in a special ceremony by first year medical students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical School.

The White Coat Ceremony is an annual event where students receive the coats as they begin their medical school training.

Traditionally, the white coat is a symbol of both professional competence in medicine and human compassion.

The 176 participants in todays ceremony are members of the Class of 2016. The students also took an oath of dedication written by the students themselves.

The ceremony and the oath remind incoming students of the dedication necessary to complete a medical education and underscore the responsibilities inherent in the practice of medicine, according to a UAB news release about the ceremony.

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UAB Medical School holds White Coat Ceremony (slideshow)