Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Thomas
Due, M.D., a hand and wrist specialist at OrthoCincy, helped welcome The
University of Kentucky's inaugural College of Medicine class at the new
Northern Kentucky Campus in Highland Heights.
Dr. Due is an alumnus of the medical school’s Lexington program and currently
serves as an adjunct assistant professor.
Because of his teaching role and dedication to the program, Dr. Due was among
those selected to participate in the inaugural White Coat Ceremony. The presenting physicians spanned
specialties, among them orthopedics, cardiology, pediatrics, and neurology.
The cohort
of medical students gathered at Greaves Concert Hall for the event that marks
the beginning of their medical training.
These 35 students will be the first to pursue education at UK’s new
Northern Kentucky Campus this fall. The
new program is a collaboration between The University of Kentucky, Northern
Kentucky University, and St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
During
the ceremony, each student received their first white coat, symbolizing the compassion
and humanism in practicing medicine.
Faculty and alumni presented the coats after which the students recited
the Pledge of Professionalism. This
event marks the dedication and commitment of students to complete their
education and training.
Given his
teaching role, Dr. Due felt honored be among the alumni and faculty selected to
bestow white coats on the incoming class.
“I am looking forward to being a small part of the learning and teaching
environment for these outstanding students," he stated. “Many doctors practice medicine in the area
where they received their education and training. This partnership could help us attract,
develop, and retain outstanding medical talent to meet the growing healthcare
demands of Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati.”
The
ceremony is a small way to recognize the initial class of students, but the
true significance of this first cohort is much broader. These 35 pioneers are only the beginning of
what Dr. Due and many others expect to have a major impact on healthcare in our
region.
