As he welcomed Juanita Moses, MD, to the stage as the keynote speaker for the Class of 2030 White Coat Ceremony in October, J. Adrian Tyndall, MD, MPH, FACEP, the Hal B. Jenson, MD Dean, President and CEO of WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed), told the crowd of the impressive list of achievements Dr. Moses has amassed during her 28-year career.
“She also has a special connection to one of our students in the Class of 2030 in one of her most important roles – Mom,” Dr. Tyndall said.
It was a fitting introduction for Dr. Moses, who serves as assistant professor in the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at WMed, and later in the ceremony, as Dr. Moses and Dr. Tyndall began cloaking the 86 students from the Class of 2030 with their first white coats, Dr. Moses shared a moment with her son – Suvan Campbell – as accomplished physician and aspiring doctor stood side by side with big smiles.
“I considered various angles for this talk today but decided to approach this as a physician who is also a mother of a physician-in-training in your class,” Dr. Moses said during her keynote address. “So, this afternoon I’m going to give you all some motherly advice.”
The Class of 2030 White Coat Ceremony was held on Friday, October 2, 2026, at WMU’s Miller Auditorium. The event was also livestreamed, allowing family members and friends who could not attend to tune in to the festivities.
In her speech, Dr. Moses’s “motherly advice” came in the form of what she referred to as “a series of seven welcomes with two overarching themes” to help guide the medical school’s newest students as they embark on their four-year journey at WMed.
“Welcome to the club, welcome to the roller coaster ride, and welcome to the family, we are all in this together,” she said. “Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life, welcome to the team, and welcome to a sacred space. Look after yourself, look after each other so we can look after our patients.
“Welcome to the journey,” she added.
In addition to Dr. Moses, students and their families and friends heard remarks from Dr. Tyndall and M4 Karli Crouch.
A member of the Class of 2027 Gold Humanism Honor Society, Crouch shared with the Class of 2030 the mission of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, which is based upon empathy, compassion, and respect for all patients.
“I hope … you recognize the power you already have to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others, not just in the future as a physician but starting now,” Crouch said. “Even in your first years of medical school you are surrounded by people whose lives you can impact simply by showing up for them. You do not need to wait until you are a physician to begin practicing compassion. Never underestimate the significance that even the smallest actions carry.”
The white coat for each student at the White Coat Ceremony was made possible by contributions from white coat sponsors. The generous donations also provide an anatomy lab coat, WMed polo shirt, stethoscope, tuning fork, and reflex hammer for each student.
For Dr. Tyndall, who began his tenure as dean, president and CEO in March, the festivities on October 2 marked his first White Coat Ceremony since taking the helm of WMed.
“So, the coat you receive today holds both meanings at once,” Dr. Tyndall said. “It holds the meanings of science and compassion; it holds the meanings of excellence as well as humility. It holds the meanings of knowledge and kindness. A physician must care as well as cure.
“Wearing the coat is an expectation but it’s also a privilege and it’s a promise,” Dr. Tyndall added. “Your role as a physician has already begun. You’re now learning the science of medicine and the art of patient care, and the coat you put on today is the same coat you will wear when you first walk into the examination room. Wear it carrying the obligation of the trust that must be earned with every individual encounter, whether from patients, families, loved ones, or friends.”
As the White Coat Ceremony concluded, the students recited their class oath, which they wrote collectively. The oath serves as a code of conduct throughout their time at WMed and as physicians after graduation.
During her remarks, Dr. Moses let the students know that she had purchased a medical penlight for each one of them. She noted that the penlights were emblazoned with the initials of the manufacturer – CAVN. She told the students that going forward, she hoped the letters would remind the students, “Congratulations, you are Absolutely Very Needed.”
“As you know, there is a physician shortage in this country,” Dr. Moses said. “You are a treasured and needed member of this profession. We recognize and appreciate the sacrifice you are making in time, energy, and debt. We, the medical community, are grateful for your commitment. We, your supporters, your family and friends, are grateful for your commitment. We, and all your future patients, are grateful for your commitment.”