FUTURE DOCTORS RECEIVE FIRST WHITE COATS

The College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) organized a welcoming ceremony for the 2026 cohort of 31 veterinary students.  Under the patronage of H. E. Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh - Cultural Adviser to H. H. the President of the UAE, Chancellor of the UAE University, and in the presence of Prof. Ghaleb Al Hadrami Al Breiki Acting Vice Chancellor of the UAE University, Prof. Bhanu Chowdhary - Dean of the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Prof. Arve Lee Willingham - Head of the Department of Veterinary Medicine, and faculty members and students.

The students have received their "white coat" and stethoscope for the first time in their academic life. The white coat ceremony is the first ceremony followed in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the UAE University. Its symbolic importance lies in the fact that it represents the moment of the beginning of the veterinary program that extends for the next five years of study and practice.

Prof. Ghaleb Al Hadrami Al Breiki, Acting Vice Chancellor of the UAE University, welcomed the students. He talked about the importance of veterinary medicine in general, and the role of the veterinarian in particular in maintaining community health and safety, through animal care and prevention from diseases and maintaining food security and safety. He also said that the university supports students as future makers and pioneers in order to achieve leadership in all fields and to promote global practices that achieve the country s strategy to reach globalization in this vital and important discipline.

Prof. Bhanu Chowdhary, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, said that he is very happy that a new group of students joined the veterinary specialty. He talked about his experience and the challenges that the students will face, but with their determination, they will pass successfully. He also pointed to the importance of scientific research and the participation during the years of study in empirical research under the supervision of highly qualified faculty members.

Prof. Arve Lee Willingham - Head of the Department of Veterinary Medicine gave an introduction to the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine program. He announced the opening of the doctoral and master's program in the department in the near future. He also urged students to join when they graduate and obtain a bachelor's degree. He then gave a presentation on the institutions in which the students receive their practical training inside and outside the university campus. Dr. Hamda Al Alawi - a graduate of the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine 2019 cohort gave an inspirational speech to the new students and talked about the enjoyable experience during the study years, and her journey with the specialty of veterinary medicine. Dr. Dhabia AlQubaisi - from the Emirates Veterinary Association, which is concerned with the profession of veterinary medicine and livestock in all its aspects, the UAEU graduate in 2020, delivered a welcome speech to the students. She also emphasized the role of the veterinarian in educating society, protecting human and animal health, and combating all epidemics and common diseases.