The CUNY School of Medicine held its first White Coat Ceremony as an independent institution, celebrating 59 students entering the M.D. Class of 2029. The event took place after the school achieved a 100% residency placement rate for its Class of 2025 on Match Day, which surpasses the national average.
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez attended the ceremony and spoke about the significance of this milestone for both the students and the university. “The incredibly talented CUNY Medicine students who have just earned their white coats will serve their fellow New Yorkers through a career in medicine,” said Matos Rodríguez. “Their work illustrates the impact that CUNY Medicine has on New York, an impact that will grow with the school’s ascension to a standalone college within our CUNY family. We wish these students the best of luck as they continue their journey towards becoming doctors.”
Dean Carmen Renée Green addressed attendees, highlighting both academic achievement and commitment to service. “Today we celebrate a wonderful group of young people who have worked hard to complete our unique, accelerated three-year Sophie Davis B.S. in Biomedical Sciences,” said Green. “We also celebrate their hard work and tenacity as they enter CUNY School of Medicine and receive their white coat. A CUNY School of Medicine white coat symbolizes our commitment to New York State, and the students’ willingness to become the doctors New York needs and New Yorkers want to see.”
The school offers an accelerated seven-year dual-degree program allowing students to earn both Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees without requiring MCAT scores for admission—a model noted for increasing accessibility among underrepresented groups.
Alan Davis received an honorary degree during the ceremony in recognition of his family’s legacy in founding the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education in 1973. The transition to independence is expected to advance efforts toward training diverse medical professionals serving underserved communities.
Most students at CUNY Med are either first-generation college-goers or immigrants; over 85% from this class are first generation in higher education or medical school, with many speaking multiple languages. Financial need is high among participants: 86% qualify for need-based aid.
According to recent studies, Black representation among primary care physicians can improve health outcomes for Black patients. The school ranks fifth nationally for graduating Black doctors and trains one out of every five Black M.D. students in New York City.
Students reflected on personal experiences shaping their goals as future physicians. Salutatorian Mahmoud Ali shared his motivation rooted in growing up in public housing: “I plan to continue my commitment to community service by staying in New York City and serving the communities that built me. These communities showed up for me and so as a future physician, I’ll show up for them.” Laiba Ali spoke about overcoming challenges related to her hearing disability: “As a severely hard-of-hearing student in an accelerated program, I have learned to persist despite significant obstacles,” she said. “Yet, I never let these barriers define me… I hope that as a physician with a disability, I can inspire others facing similar obstacles to be fearless in pursuing their dreams.”
Three-quarters of graduates typically practice locally; nearly 40% serve healthcare shortage areas across New York.
Located in Harlem, CUNY School of Medicine distinguishes itself through its diverse student body and focus on providing opportunities for historically underrepresented groups within medicine (https://www.cuny.edu). Since becoming an M.D.-granting institution in 2016, it has developed partnerships extending into neighborhoods where access remains limited.
The City University of New York is recognized as one of America’s largest urban public universities—serving almost 240,000 undergraduate and graduate students across five boroughs—and continues its mission since its founding as America’s first free public higher education institution.
