Answering a Call to Service: 2025 UCSF School of Medicine White Coat Ceremony
“You said yes. Yes to a life of service. Yes to learning what it truly means to care. Yes to joining a community that believes medicine can – and must – be a force for justice, healing, and discovery.”
With these words, Dean Talmadge E. King Jr., MD welcomed the incoming UCSF School of Medicine Class of 2029 to the White Coat Ceremony on August 10, 2025, at San Francisco’s Herbst Theatre.
This year’s incoming class of 177 students showcases a broad range of backgrounds, with 71% coming from California and others representing 24 states and 18 countries. Together, they bring a wealth of personal and professional experiences that will empower them to care for an increasingly diverse patient population.
A Ceremony of Celebration and Purpose
During the ceremony, Adnan Alseidi, MD, MEd, MBA, Associate Dean for Assessment, Improvement, and Accreditation, and Erick K. Hung, MD, Associate Dean for Students, read each student’s name as they were coated by Michelle Albert, MD, MPH, Associate Dean for Admissions, and Peter Chin-Hong, MD, Associate Dean for Regional Campuses. Dean King and Vice Dean for Education Karen Hauer, MD, PhD greeted each new student, while cheers from family and friends filled the theatre.
Dean King reminded the class that the day was “both a celebration and a solemn moment.”
“You are entering medicine at a time when the world is questioning trust in science, the resilience of health care systems, and how we care for one another,” he said.
The Call to Heal
Keynote speaker Andrea V. Jackson, MD, MAS, Professor & Department Chair of the UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, echoed this call to purpose.
“External forces will affect the business of medicine and health, including access, and your patients will feel that,” Dr. Jackson said. “But here’s what I want you to realize: you are a healer. It is a calling, never just a profession, and this transcends everything else. Healing is not only sacred – it is a radical act of resistance.”
Met with a standing ovation, Dr. Jackson’s keynote address urged students to hold fast to their purpose.
“Don’t let the chaos of the world pull you away from your purpose,” she said. “Anchor in it. Return to it… We need each one of you to share your light, brilliance, and humanity – now more than ever.”
Voices of the Class of 2029
The Class of 2029 has entered the UCSF School of Medicine with a shared dedication to service and advocacy.
Arveen and Nirveen Kaur – sisters in the San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education (SJV PRIME) – grew up translating for their Punjabi-speaking grandparents, witnessing firsthand the linguistic and cultural barriers to care.
“‘Seva,’ or selfless service, has guided us since childhood in our Sikh Punjabi community,” the sisters said. “In medicine and medical school, it’s how we understand community needs – by supporting peers, advocating for patients, and striving to reduce health disparities through compassionate, inclusive care.”
This dedication to service rings true throughout the Class of 2029, many of whom chose UCSF for shared commitments to advocacy and justice.
Giovanni Pantoja, a member of the Program in Medical Education for the Urban Underserved (PRIME-US), chose UCSF to “help shape a healthcare system that is equitable, culturally responsive, and community-informed.” Raised in an underserved urban community, Pantoja hopes that his lived experience will strengthen his medical training at UCSF, where service will remain a constant thread. He said, “Service is fundamental – it grounds medicine in compassion and accountability. It deepens our understanding of the communities we serve and helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and lived experience.”
Sita Strother, a Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) student, was inspired by her mother’s childhood in the rural foster care system without access to medical providers. “I want to be the difference between my experience with the medical system and my mother’s,” she said. “That honor requires a continuous commitment to serving patients’ needs – both physical and emotional.”
Ava Snow, from the UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program (JMP), built her passion for health equity while coordinating research at the HIV Clinic at Ward 86. “In high school, I joined a peer education group that taught about sexual and reproductive health care topics in schools around southwest Montana,” said Snow. “Seeing the impact of inclusive and comprehensive health information, especially on my fellow LGBTQ+ students, inspired me to pursue a career in medicine.”
This spirit of service that unites the Class of 2029 is perhaps best summarized by incoming MD student Akila Kevin Bislao, for whom service is “an honorable obligation to prioritize patient well-being.” Personal experiences with health care disparities in his birth country of Togo ignited Bislao’s desire to enter medicine and increase access to care for the underserved. He said, “I hope service at UCSF will help me better serve diverse populations, improve my ability to provide equitable care, and develop skills I can carry into my medical career and eventually contribute back to Togo and similar regions.”
Belonging and the Journey Ahead
Looking back on their White Coat Ceremony, students reflected upon the community and shared values that brought them to UCSF.
“From my first moments at UCSF, I felt a genuine sense of belonging,” said Nirveen Kaur.
“I am truly appreciative of the diversity of thought and experiences here,” added Arveen Kaur.
For Giovanni Pantoja, the day was as much about those who made his journey possible, as it was about donning the white coat. “[My family’s] presence, smiles, tears, and pride reflected the sacrifices, love, and support that made today possible; this achievement belongs to us all.”
“This week, I met so many incredible peers,” added Akila Bislao. “It made me realize I’ll be studying and training to be a physician alongside so many exceptional people.”
A Final Charge
On behalf of the UCSF Medical Alumni Association, which provided this year’s incoming class with their new white coats, President David Campa, MD, MPH, sent off the new students with a charge:
“We wish you the best of luck on your path to becoming compassionate and effective physician healers who are adept at connecting with people across cultures and languages, and to leading change through a lifelong commitment to learning, social justice, and service to all those in need.”
