UC Davis School of Medicine welcomes the Class of 2028

The 139 new students entering the UC Davis School of Medicine received their official welcome on Saturday during an induction ceremony.

They received valuable advice from keynote speakers.

Olivia Campa, an assistant clinical professor of internal medicine, urged students to cherish the positive moments of the next four years because they can inoculate against the more difficult moments they are sure to face.

“Celebrate the good and great times because you’ll hold these memories closely during the tougher times,” she said. “Hold on to each other.”

Campa, a School of Medicine 2014 graduate, said her classmates were among “the most amazing people I had ever met.” She then asked students to turn to their right and their left. “You are all in this together so try to see the best parts of people.”

Students represent at least 23 language groups

The Class of 2028 is the largest in school history and nearly half of its members come from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in medicine: 27% are Hispanic 16% are Black and 3.6% are American Indian or Alaska Native.

In fact, this month UC Davis was ranked as the fourth most diverse medical school in the country, behind three historically Black colleges.

In addition, about 44% of the students were the first in their family to graduate from college and 80% come from families that were economically disadvantaged.

Associate Dean of Admissions Mark Henderson noted the “tremendous diversity” of the class when he introduced the part of the program where students step up to the microphone and recite the pledge of ethics in their family’s native language.

“We have over 23 languages represented in the class,” Henderson said. “This is one of the many ways they’re going to make a difference in helping their patients and communities.”

The languages ranged from the more common, such as Arabic, to the lesser known, Lushootseed, which is spoken by Indigenous people in the Puget Sound region of Washington.

Overcoming challenges to become ‘better, stronger and capable’

The induction, also called a white coat ceremony, was held at the University Credit Union Center on the UC Davis campus. Students entered and exited the arena to the sound of bagpipes.

Students sat on stage wearing their new white lab coats. Later, they lined up to receive stethoscopes from faculty members as their official welcome to the school.

Fourth-year student Oliver Guevarra delivered a motivational speech and thanked the supporters of the incoming class.

“From this moment on,” he said to the audience, “please know that if our medical student tells you they are in the hospital, they are most likely working and not sick or injured — my mom is definitely still not used to that one.”

He provided sound advice to students: Before each medical school test, Guevarra said, he listens to the same song (Rise Up by Andra Day). “Not only do the vocals and piano quell my pre-test anxiety,” he said, “but the lyrics continually remind me about resilience.”

Guevarra assured students that the journey that got them here is harder than the journey ahead. Everyone on stage, he said, has overcome hurdles that made them “better, stronger and capable.”

He added: “Remember, adversity builds muscle, not wounds. When times get tough, hold on to this and continue to rise again. You already know how.”