ETSU Quillen College of Medicine welcomes Class of 2028

East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine capped off its new student orientation program on Friday with a White Coat Ceremony officially welcoming the 78 members of the Class of 2028.

This year’s class was selected from a pool of more than 3,000 applicants, and represents 35 undergraduate institutions, with ETSU sending the most graduates to Quillen. Of the 78, all but four hail from Tennessee or its border counties.

There are three military-affiliated members in this year’s class, and two are children of Quillen alumni. Three others are siblings to current or former Quillen students, and another is married to an alum.

“This is such an exciting time of the year for our college and our incoming class,” said Dr. Bill Block, dean of the Quillen College of Medicine and ETSU’s vice president for Clinical Affairs. “The White Coat Ceremony in many ways symbolizes the beginning of a student’s medical school journey, and this is a truly special moment for them and their families.”

The White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage for beginning medical students to help establish a psychological contract for professionalism and empathy in the practice of medicine. The event emphasizes the importance of both scientific excellence and compassionate care for patients. The Quillen College of Medicine held its first White Coat Ceremony in 1997. Since then, the ceremony has served as the climax of the college’s new student orientation program.

The Class of 2028 also set a record for the number of students accepted under the nationwide Early Decision Program with 16. The Early Decision Program allows students seeking acceptance to apply early to one participating school.

“The Early Decision Program at Quillen allows students like myself to clearly convey to the admissions committee that we recognize the college as the best fit for us nationwide,” said Jake Berens , a member of the Class of 2028 who was accepted under the Early Decision Program. “The school’s dedicated focus on rural health and veterans care aligns perfectly with my career aspirations to make a meaningful impact where healthcare access is often limited.

“I am honored to have been accepted into Quillen’s Class of 2028 and look forward to contributing to their mission of service and excellence in healthcare in the Northeast Tennessee and surrounding Appalachian Region.”

ETSU offers a robust combination of academic programs and patient-care facilities with more than 40 health sciences programs across five colleges that elevate interprofessional experience in health care education.

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