Aspiring dentists at Texas Tech to get ‘white coats’

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — Aspiring dentists at Texas Tech Health El Paso will be going through a milestone ceremony that marks the beginning of their professional education this weekend.

Sixty dental students in the class of 2028 will receive “white coats” during a ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24 at the Medical Sciences Building II auditorium on campus, 137 Rick Francis St.

“The white coat ceremony marks one of the first and most influential milestones in a health care provider’s education. It symbolizes professionalism and compassion in the field of of dental medicine,” according to Texas Tech.

Richard Black, D.D.S., M.S., dean of the Hunt School of Medicine, alongside faculty, will present all 60 dental students of the class of 2028 with their first white coats. The students will take an oath acknowledging and reaffirming their promise to serve patients, enhance community health and deliver quality oral health care throughout their careers, according to the news release.

Of the 60 students, 57% are first-generation college students, and 63% are multilingual, according to Texas Tech.

Also, 52% of the class comes from West Texas and the Texas border region, including 17% from El Paso County and Southern New Mexico, Texas Tech said.

The class of 2028 is part of the historic first four classes to enter the school since it opened in 2021. The inaugural class will graduate in 2025.

Linda J. Edgar, D.D.S., M.Ed., president of the American Dental Association, will deliver opening remarks and Adela Cabrera, D.D.S., of El Paso, will deliver the keynote address.

Dr. Cabrera has been an active member of the El Paso Dental Society, American Dental Association, and Texas Dental Association for 22 years. She was a five-year delegate to the Texas Dental Association and served on the board of the El Paso Dental Society for over 10 years, holding the position of president in 2011. Cabrera has provided oral care for El Pasoans for more 25 years.

Ed Anderson, CEO of Diversified Interiors, is the chief sponsor for the white coat ceremony, Texas Tech said.

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