By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A cohort of 55 first-year medical students marked an important rite of passage on Friday as they donned their white coats for the first time to signify the start of their journey toward a career in health care.
The University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, 1601 Parkview Ave., held the ceremony as students arrived on campus this week to officially begin their medical education. Each student walked across a stage in the college auditorium where they pulled the white jacket over their shoulders for the first time. They also recited the Hippocratic oath as a group.
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“It takes a lot of time, dedication and study to even get to this point,” said Andy Vaewhongs of Loves Park. “This is an official embark on our journey.”
He is one of four students from either Rockford or Loves Park.
Vaewhongs, a Rockford Christian graduate who earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, could become a fourth-generation doctor. His great-grandfather practiced in Thailand and his grandfather, who was also born in Thailand, worked in medicine in southern Illinois. His father, Dr. Michael Vaewhongs, practices internal medicine in northern Illinois.
Vaewhongs spent the past two years working as an emergency medical technician, and he is considering a future in emergency medicine as a doctor.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to study here in Rockford, which I call home, and I’m just excited to start,” he said. “I’d love to work in this area. I’ve seen a lot of things, met a lot of great people here and I’d love to come back and serve the people who shaped who I am.”
Bella Swan, a Rockford native and Christian Life graduate, has her sights on primary care. She would be the first in her family to become a doctor.
“We’ve always kind of been rooting for someone to go into health care,” she said.
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Swan completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Iowa and got a master’s degree in medical sciences from Loyola University. She will be part of the Urban Health Program and Rural Medical Education Program.
“It’s been a journey to get to today, and today is even the beginning of the journey,” Swan said. “It signifies the hard work that I’ve put in and also the huge support systems that have helped me get to this spot … I like what the dean said today, ‘you don’t get to med school alone.'”
Dr. Alex Stagnaro-Green, dean of the College of Medicine in Rockford, said the students are an enthusiastic, idealistic and determined group.
“They know that they’re entering a really difficult profession where they know they’re going to have to work super hard, and there’s certain pressures to it,” he said. “And they embrace it, and their families encourage and support them.”
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Stagnaro-Green said he hopes some students will continue to work in the community as doctors once they complete their education.
“We hope that after they finish their training they’ll come here, become part of the community and maybe even become part of the faculty at the College of Medicine,” he said.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.