The students of the first Master’s year in Medicine at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) received their white doctor’s coats today during the annual White Coat Ceremony. This symbolic moment marks the start of their clinical placement period at UZ Brussel.
During the ceremony, the students were presented with their white coat and hospital badge. Several speakers reflected on the professional, ethical and deontological expectations that come with their new role in the hospital. The VUB is the only university in Belgium where students begin clinical placements as early as their first Master’s year.
“The white coat is more than a uniform,” says Prof Koen Putman, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy at the VUB. “It represents responsibility, trust, and a conscious choice to provide care in a respectful and honest way. For our students, this moment marks the true start of their formation as doctors.”
For UZ Brussel too, the early arrival of trainees is an important part of its role as a university teaching hospital. “We are strongly committed to a learning environment in which students can grow from day one,” says Prof Dr Steven Droogmans, Medical Director of UZ Brussel. “By guiding them early in practice, we help future doctors develop into capable and empathetic professionals who are ready for the healthcare of tomorrow.”
