The White Coat Tradition

When Jayda Chandool, a third-year student at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, was in her first and second year, the White Coat Ceremony seemed far off and even somewhat questionable.

But in 2024, as she neared year four of her clinical rotations, she says, “I got this glimmer of starting to feel like a doctor.”

At this point in her studies, she says, “We do live surgery, we talk about clinics, and we start integrating post-graduate discussions into life.

She says the White Coat Ceremony symbolizes the effort to reach that point. “It’s a time we get to stand with fellow classmates who we’ve been spending hours, weeks and months with and celebrate the not-so-small victory of making it to clinics and our new reality of life as veterinarians in the near future.”

A symbol of achievement

The White Coat Ceremony is a crucial step in a veterinary student’s professional journey. It is a formal event in which third-year veterinary students receive their white lab coats as a symbol of their entry into the clinical portion of the DVM program.

Some alumni graciously sponsor white coats for students anonymously. Others personally present the coats to students they’ve known since childhood, like Jeff Poland, DVM ’82, of Coshocton, Ohio, who is supporting Elizabeth Porteus, DVM candidate, Class of 2025.

“He’s watched me grow up and seen me through every step of my life — all my challenges and successes with school and sports — and at our church.” - Elizabeth Porteus, DVM Candidate, Class of 2025

Poland, who founded and ran A-1 Vet Care Inc. in Coshocton for 39 years before retiring in 2020, was inspired to support the white coat for Porteus for several reasons. “I’ve known Liz’s family before she was born,” he says.

“When I graduated, we didn’t have a white coat ceremony. When my son was in medical school, we attended his White Coat Ceremony, and I was moved by the program.”

When Porteus expressed an interest in veterinary medicine, Poland did everything he could to encourage her. He helped her gain experience while she was still in high school, including preparing for an FFA contest. Poland showed her how to use the instruments and do sterile wrappings in his clinic. Her team did well, competing at the state level and representing Ohio at the FFA National Convention.

“I knew her interest in veterinary medicine was strong, so when she asked me to coat her, I said I’d be honored to do it.

“Getting into veterinary school is not easy,” he says. “You have to work your tail off and sometimes sacrifice social activities to study.”

Poland says the white coat is a symbol of prestige. “The white coat helps to symbolize that – this is a calling. The ceremony tells parents, friends and even students themselves that they are deserving and professional. It’s also a nice way to prove to others that you can do it.”

Porteus says she has always aimed to serve Coshocton County, recognizing the need for large animal services in the area. Her goal is to enter mixed animal general practice in the surrounding region after graduation.

Growing up on a farm, she always envisioned a career in veterinary medicine. “There were times in school when I considered other career paths, but being involved in 4H and FFA made me realize this was my true calling.”

She enjoys the interaction with both animals and clients that large animal veterinary medicine requires. “There’s something special about going to a farm, connecting with farmers and building those relationships,” she says. “For many clients, you are involved in multiple stages of their production system, and you become an essential part of helping their animals.”

Porteus says that visiting farms weekly or monthly for herd checks or horse work involves more extended interactions than a small animal practice. “You really build much stronger relationships with those clients.”

Realizing a new chapter

Tasha Small, DVM ’11, president of Pondview Veterinary Clinic in Archbold, Ohio, supported and coated Alexa Bockelman, a DVM candidate from the Class of 2025.

Small knew a family member of Bockelman’s from her high school days. Years later, she got to know Bockelman when the veterinary student completed an externship at Small’s practice as part of her undergraduate major in animal science at Ohio State. 

“We asked Alexa if she wanted to stay on as an assistant after her externship ended,” Small says.  “We try to help out as many students as possible.

Bockelman also completed a four-week rotation at Small’s clinic in December 2024.

Once Small committed to being her mentor coater, she also wanted to support her white coat and placed a note of encouragement in her pocket as part of the ceremony.

“I told her the white coat signifies that you’ve worked so hard to get to this point, and now you get to apply it with real pets and people in your clinical year. It symbolizes the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. It’s exciting.” 
- Tasha Small, DVM ’11

Chandool agrees, adding that those who support the white coat are welcoming students with the highest honor.

“It’s a silent, gentle push to remind us that we are moments from the finish line and that the title doesn’t make us a doctor — our actions do.”

The White Coat Ceremony supports and celebrates each student's journey and symbolizes our ambition to Be The Model®, advancing veterinary education and student success.