Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine welcomed the class of 2019 during its annual White Coat Ceremony held Aug. 16. Sponsored by the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, the event officially recognized 114 members of the incoming class by donning them in lab coats to be worn during their veterinary education.
The hour-long ceremony was held in the Hodgson Concert Hall at the UGA Performing Arts Center. It was followed by a reception with the students’ families and members of the college’s faculty and staff at UGA’s new Veterinary Medical Center.
“The white coat is a symbol of medical professionalism and of acceptance of the responsibilities, obligations and sacrifices that go with the privilege to study and practice veterinary medicine. Reciting the Veterinarian’s Oath for the first time denotes the beginning of their official journey in one of the most respected professions,” said Dr. Karen Cornell, the college’s associate dean for academic affairs.
The incoming class includes 88 women and 26 men. This class features a wide variety of focuses, including 31 percent interested in companion animal medicine; 37 percent in mixed-animal medicine; 11 percent in zoo animal and wildlife medicine; 4 percent in food animal medicine; 11 percent in public health; and 6 percent in equine medicine.
UGA College of Veterinary Medicine
The UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, conducting research related to animal and human diseases and providing veterinary services for animals and their owners. Research efforts are aimed at enhancing the quality of life for animals and people, improving the productivity of poultry and livestock and preserving a healthy interface between wildlife and people in the environment they share. The college enrolls 114 students each fall out of more than 1,100 who apply. For more information, see www.vet.uga.edu.
