On the morning of October 17, the Shanghai—Ottawa United Medical College formed by Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the University of Ottawa held the white coat ceremony call to the profession for the first batch of students. President of the University of Ottawa Allan Rock, Canadian Consul Ryan Baerg, President Zhang Jie and department head of SJTU Affiliated Renji Hospital Li Weiping attended the ceremony.

President Zhang Jie expressed in the speech that SJTU has always been endeavoring to build the first class university in the world, and the United Medical College is the result of cooperation between the two countries’ higher education. He hoped that the two parts can deepen collaboration in the future. Allan Rock and Ryan Baerg also expressed their encouragements to the students.

Professor Cao Hui of the Renji Hospital explained the connotation of the oath of medical students, and the professional spirit of doctors. Later, fifty six new students put up their white coats and signed their names on the commitment.

The “White Coat Ceremony” originated from the medical schools of the Western world. On the ceremony, teachers and senior students give the white coat which signifies purity and kindness to new students, and help new students to understand the commitment of a doctor. 

The mentioned college is the first united medical college cooperated with North America and authorized by the country’s 985 program. This jointed effort will promote the development of Chinese revolution of the education in medicine school.