White Coat Ceremony

White Coat 2025

The 2025 White Coat Ceremony was held on Friday, October 3, 2025, at 2pm in the Grand Ballroom at the Long Island Marriott (101 James Doolittle Boulevard, Uniondale, NY 11553).

For more information, contact the Office of Student Affairs.

The White Coat ceremony is a significant moment in a medical student's career. This ceremony creates a psychological, intellectual, and ethical contract between the student and the profession, with the goal to promote empathy in the practice of medicine from the very start of medical training. Established in 1993 by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, the White Coat Ceremony is a traditional rite of passage celebrated by medical schools throughout the country and represents a major step in the careers of medical students, marking their transition from students to medical professionals.

2024 White Coat Ceremony 2023 White Coat Ceremony 2022 White Coat Ceremony 2021 White Coat Ceremony 2020 White Coat Ceremony 2019 White Coat Ceremony

Info for Class of 2029

Preparing for the Ceremony

White Coat Distribution – white coats will be provided prior to the ceremony.
- Students should report early to the Lighthouse Ballroom at the Marriott to pick up the White Coat.
Dress code is business attire. Keep in mind, you will be walking up and down stairs during the ceremony, and your white coat should fit comfortably over your outfit. We recommend not wearing a blazer or sweater. Choose your shoes and outfits accordingly.
The Long Island Marriott does not provide an area to check bags, coats, or any other personal belongings. Please leave personal belongings with your family members or in your car. You will not be permitted to carry anything during the procession, except your White Coat.
- Please come to the staging area without coats, bags, etc.
Parking information for students - Long Island Marriott

What to expect day-of

Please arrive at the Long Island Marriott no later than 1:15 pm. Please report to the student staging area in the Lighthouse Ballroom (which is directly across from the Grand Ballroom).
A Class photo of students in white coats will be taken at 1:25 pm – 1:50 pm. Group photo & final reminders in Lighthouse Ballroom.
Students line up & procession in the Lighthouse Ballroom at 1:50 pm - 2:00 pm.
The ceremony will commence at 2 PM and conclude at approximately 3:30 pm.
A reception for students and their guests will be held at the School of Medicine immediately following the ceremony.

Important Parking Instructions

Due to ongoing construction and limited parking at the Long Island Marriott (LIM), students, faculty, and staff should park in the overflow lot at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (NVMC). This conveniently located lot is just east of Hofstra University's East Gate entrance

Directions:

Exit Hofstra University through the East Gate entrance on Earle Ovington Boulevard
Cross Earle Ovington Boulevard and enter the NVMC parking lot
Continue past Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Nassau (south side) and NVMC (north side)
Park in the designated spaces along the fence line between NVMC and LIM
Use the marked crosswalk to access the LIM property and enter the hotel through the west entrance

The NVMC parking lot is also accessible from Hempstead Turnpike. Please note that family and guests attending the White Coat Ceremony are welcome to use this parking lot and are permitted to enter the hotel through the same LIM west entrance.

Please see the attached map for detailed information and parking locations.

Parking Map

Information for Family & Guests

Guest registration process – Your student will RSVP on your behalf
The ceremony will commence at 2 p.m. and conclude at approximately 3:30 p.m.
Guests arriving at the Long Island Marriott are encouraged to arrive early and pack light. The Grand Ballroom doors will open at 1 p.m. Seating is first-come, first-served.
The Marriott does not offer a place to check bags, coats, or other personal items. To help ensure an enjoyable experience for all, we ask that guests avoid bringing large posters, confetti makers, noise makers, or similar items that could block others’ views or cause disruptions due to the venue’s limited space.
A reception for students and their guests will be held at the School of Medicine immediately following the ceremony.
For those who cannot attend the White Coat Ceremony, a simulcast is broadcast and can be viewed live here.
For parking information - Long Island Marriott and Zucker School of Medicine
- Accessible parking and ceremony seating – Please note that your student will mention these requests in their RSVP.
- The Marriott offers dedicated accessible parking, and Public Safety Officers will direct you at the School of Medicine.
- Before the ceremony, staff members will be available to assist guests with reserving seating and accommodations.