Our Correspondent
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Gomal Medical College (GMC) organised its White Coat Ceremony 2026 on Monday at the Fida Memorial Auditorium, marking the formal induction of first-year MBBS students into the medical profession.
Faculty members, students and their parents attended the ceremony, which symbolised the beginning of a professional journey rooted in service, ethics and responsibility. Dressed in white coats for the first time, the students took an oath pledging lifelong learning, professionalism, compassion and respect for patients.
Addressing the ceremony, Dean Gomal Medical College Dr Naseem Saba Mahsood delivered a thoughtful and reform-oriented address, urging students to uphold integrity, discipline and empathy throughout their medical careers. She emphasised that medicine was not merely an academic pursuit or a source of prestige, but a lifelong moral responsibility that required humility, patience and dedication to humanity.
Dr Mahsood also addressed parents, acknowledging their sacrifices and stressing that parental support, along with guidance from teachers, played a crucial role in shaping competent and ethical doctors. She advised students to focus not only on grades but also on character-building, ethical conduct and respect for human life, noting that society places immense trust in the medical profession.
The chief guest, Dr Khalid Masud Gondal, Vice Chancellor of Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Lahore, and President of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP), delivered a keynote address online via Zoom on the topic of “Professionalism”.
In his address, Dr Gondal highlighted the core values of professionalism in medicine, including ethical practice, accountability, lifelong learning and compassion for patients. He reminded students that wearing the white coat was a symbol of responsibility and public trust, not authority, and urged them to remain committed to honesty and service throughout their careers.
Despite joining the ceremony virtually, Dr Gondal’s address resonated strongly with both students and parents, reinforcing the importance of ethical conduct and human values in medical practice.
Speakers noted that the White Coat Ceremony served as a reminder that medical education marks the beginning of a demanding yet honourable journey, defined by service to humanity rather than personal gain.
The ceremony concluded with prayers for the success of the newly inducted students and the continued progress of the institution.
