CatSU conducts inaugural White Coat ceremony for ND students
CollegesThe
Catanduanes State University (CatSU) Department of Nutrition and Dietetics
organized its first White Coat Ceremony on June 9, 2023, at the university
auditorium.
This
ceremony held great significance for the third-year Bachelor of Science in
Nutrition and Dietetics (BS ND) students as they prepared for their upcoming
practicum in areas such as Hospital Dietetics, Public Health Nutrition, and
Food Service.
The
approval of the SUC President, Dr. Patrick Alain T. Azanza, and the
recommendation by the Phil. Regulations Commission (PRC) Board of Nutrition and
Dietetics played a crucial role in making this ceremony possible. The
department, led by Prof. Emily V. Romero, organized the event with the aim of
boosting the students' confidence and attracting high school graduates to
enroll in the BS ND program.
The
ceremony commenced with a mass at the Risen Christ Chapel, officiated by Rev.
Father Eric John T. Rojas. Following the mass, Prof. Joel T. Olfindo, MAN, the
Dean of the College of Health Sciences, delivered his welcome remarks. Dean
Olfindo emphasized that the white coat should not separate clinicians from
their patients' emotions and concerns.
“May
this remind everyone of us that this should not keep us from appreciating the
emotions, or concerns such as pain of our patients. This is what the White Coat
Ceremony is all about. This is why we are here today”, Dean Olfindo said.
The
ceremony also provided the students with guidelines and expectations for their
roles and responsibilities as future dietetics professionals before they
embarked on their clinical placements.
The
Guest Speaker for the ceremony was Ms. Justin M. Tabinas, a registered
nutritionist-dietitian and the current ND of the Provincial Health Office
(PHO). In her speech, Tabinas commended the students for their sacrifices and
determination in pursuing their studies and dreams. She discussed the
importance of professionalism, which encompasses expertise, ethics, and
courtesy, in delivering quality and efficient service.
“Today’s
Pledge of Professionalism and Excellence, marks a new horizon for you all, our
future Nutritionist-Dietitians. Young as you are, I could see and feel the
enthusiasm in your faces as you move towards a new level of field of expertise,
just continue”, she said.
Dr.
Azanza, the SUC President, graced the event and expressed his pride in the
students' achievements. He highlighted the significance of service and reminded
the students that their chosen profession relied on their dedication to
providing quality care. He also commended the faculty members for their efforts
in preparing the students for their future careers.
“This
is our way of saying that we are proud of you, that we believe in you. That you
must carry on and bring out there in the real world the brand of the CatSU. And
we know that you have it, we know that our faculty members have really done so
much to prepare you for that and therefore you deserve to wear this white coat
today.
Move
on with pursuit of your career but most especially, remember that service is
the most important in your choice of profession. And life depends on you”.
Dr.
Azanza also shared the historical context of Catanduanes, which had previously
been identified as a province with nutritional problems. He acknowledged the
improvements that had been achieved in the province and attributed them to the
dedicated efforts of nutritionist-dietitians in implementing interventions
within the communities.
The
CatSU president expressed his gratitude and expressed his confidence in the
students' abilities. He assured them that they had been equipped with the
necessary ethics, training, expertise, and moral values to provide excellent
service to their future patients.
The
White Coat Ceremony marked a significant milestone for the students as they
transitioned from being students to becoming clinical dietetics trainees. It
represented the start of their clinical attachment, which would provide them
with valuable hands-on experience in their field. The lecturers, faculty
members, and clinical instructors had the honor of passing on the clinical
white coats to the students, symbolizing their readiness for this next phase in
their education and professional development.
#CIV
