UHAS HOLDS 4TH JOINT WHITE COAT CEREMONY

The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) held its 4th joint White Coat Ceremony for the School of Medicine and School of Pharmacy on Friday, March 14, 2025 at the Cedi Auditorium on the University's main campus, Sokode-Lokoe, Ho. In all, 258 students were transitioned into their clinical years.

The White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage; a formal academic ceremony that inducts students from the pre-clinical phase to the clinical phase of their programmes.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Lydia Aziato, the Chairperson for the event, in her opening remarks congratulated the students for successfully going through their pre-clinical studies and urged them to cultivate a habit of lifelong learning as they enter the professional phase of the training.

She advised the students to always inculcate the ethos of UHAS in all aspects of their training and maintain a blemish-free status. The Vice Chancellor also advised them to use technology wisely to enhance their knowledge base in assisting their patients.

An astute professor at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Professor Mahama Duwiejua was the Guest Speaker. He spoke on the theme “Interprofessional Health Training and Collaborative Practice: Bridging the Gaps.”  He said collaborative efforts in healthcare have become important as they help reduce the risk of errors such as misdiagnosis or medication mistakes and lead to a more efficient use of resources as well as lower healthcare costs. The Keynote Speaker bemoaned the fact that most hospitals are not up to the task as they “only pay lip service” to what is required. 

Prof. Duwiejua posited that there exist longstanding mistrust between healthcare professionals, which is rooted in “professional protectionism”. According to him, “All these factors continue to hinder patient care and patient safety by blocking the development of interprofessional communication.” He therefore called on his colleagues in the healthcare sector to eschew the unacceptable attitudes and learn to work together. 

He finally called on the student trainees to stay true to their oath. He advised them to “renounce the silo mentality and embrace collaborative and team-based care.” 

The students from both School of Medicine and School of Pharmacy took turns to appreciate their lecturers and mentors for guiding them through the pre-clinical years. They also appreciated their parents and guardians for their unwavering dedication, support and encouragement.