ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- Lake Erie’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Elmira presented students with their symbolic white coats. Every white coat presented signified the journey a student will take over the next four years. 

“Today's a very special day,” excitingly shared Zuhayr Kahn, LECOM class of 2027.  “I'll be the first, medical student from my family in the U.S. so I'm very exciting day with my family.” 

First-year students enjoyed the celebratory morning at the Clemens Center before getting back to the books. A female LECOM student smiled in awe as she wore her white coat for the first time.  

“It's sort of like a little bit of a morale boost, kind of mid-semester, mid-first month I would say,” Afrah Ahmed said with a glimmer of joy in her eyes. “So, it's nice, you know, it's just kind of reassuring. A dream comes true; dream comes true.”  

Over the next four years, students will not only stay in LECOM'S lecture halls. Elmria's program focuses on problem-based learning pathway in the classroom, small groups, and clinical rotations. 

LECOM Professor of Pathology and Histology, Dr. Munir Syed, is empathetic toward students' goals and makes learning digestible. 

“I try to understand where they are and, give them hope and give them love and teach as well, and one of the important things that I've found, which is very helpful in learning, which is conducive for learning, Dr. Syed shared.  

Amit Sharma graduated from Elmira’s LECOM in 2014. Nine years later, he returned to watch his brother receive his white coat and be the guest speaker for the class of 2027. His words of wisdom were simple but powerful. 

“Next four years will be, tough and challenging, but my best advice is stick with it. Keep persisting. You can do it,”  a now, Dr. Sharma wholeheartedly shared from his own personal experiences.  

The thing about higher education like osteopathic medicine, a student's journey is most successful with a sturdy base.  

“Higher education is just like building a skyscraper, you can't build it on shaky foundations. So, I concentrate more on it. The conceptual understanding of basic sciences, and then they can build the story as they go along,” said Dr. Syed.  

The ceremony ended with the osteopathic oath. The oath read... “I pledge to provide passionate, quality care to my patients. Harbor within to promote health. Display integrity in professions throughout my career. Advance the philosophy, practice, in Science of Osteopathic Medicine. Continue lifelong learning. Support my profession with loyalty and action, word and deed. Live each day as an example of what an Osteopathic Physician should be. “