UHAS, on May 1, held a joint White Coat ceremony for 139 students from the Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy. There were 57 students from the Physician Assistantship programme, marking the first time PA students have participated in the annual rite of passage; 82 students were from the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery programme, and 44 students from the Doctor of Pharmacy programme. The White coat ceremony is a formal ceremony inducting students from pre-clinical studies into the clinical phase.
In her keynote address on “The Path to Entrepreneurial Excellence in Healthcare”, Professor Afua A.J. Hesse, President of the Accra College of Health, advised the inductees to develop a mindset of not waiting on government to provide employment for them. “Come together in group practice and provide employment for yourselves,” noting that every problem is a solution waiting to be found.
She advised them to start building their brands and be noted for quality, excellence. “Don’t go chasing money,” she said. “If you seek excellence in what you do by leading, applying innovations and appropriate technology even in our resource-deprived state, the work will repay you.”
She noted that in order to become indispensable, they need to contribute to improving specific world targets for practitioner-to-patient ratio in Ghana by specializing in specific areas, which can be achieved through continuous learning.
Professor Lydia Aziato, Vice Chancellor, lauded the students for making it this far, and said the ceremony signifies professionalism and readiness for the clinical stage of their education. She expressed hope that the students would excel in their respective fields as the University’s flagship vocational training programme has trained them for this venture.
As the day marked a significant period for Physician Assistants and the University, Prof. Aziato made a passionate appeal to the Medical and Dental Council to carve a career progression pathway for PAs to allow them grow as is seen in other professions. This appeal was echoed last year during the ten year anniversary of the Physician Assistant Students’ Association (PASAG) health week celebration held in UHAS.
The VC also noted that PAs are the first point of contact at the grassroots level and, therefore, pivotal in achieving universal health coverage. She advised the inductees to abide by the tenets of their profession and the ethos and values of UHAS. She also lauded faculty for their continuous support.
Mr. Solomon Akrong, Acting Human Resource Director, also reiterated to the personnel that in discharging their duties at various campuses of the University, “let this training impact on your work which will in turn to affect your appraisals.”
Professor Frank Edwin, Dean, School of Medicine said the reflective ceremony marks the heavy burden of responsibility of care entrusted unto the inductees and advised them to prepare for it.