A new group of 141 students has begun their medical education at the Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) at Stony Brook University. The White Coat Ceremony, held on August 8 at the university’s Staller Center, marked the official start of their training.
The ceremony is a tradition among many medical schools in the United States and serves as an initiation for students entering the profession. At RSOM, this event has been held annually since 1998.
This year’s incoming class was selected from a competitive pool, with only seven percent of applicants gaining admission for the 2025-26 academic year. Students in this cohort come from 61 different universities across the country, with Stony Brook University being the most represented institution; nineteen students earned undergraduate or master’s degrees from there. The median undergraduate GPA for the class is 3.89 out of 4.00.
“Today we celebrate the members of the Entering Class of 2025 as they begin their journey to becoming doctors, and we are delighted that you have decided to pursue your education at the Renaissance School of Medicine, the top-ranked public medical school by NIH funding in New York State,” said Peter Igarashi, MD, Knapp Dean of RSOM.
Dr. Igarashi also noted that a significant portion—35 percent—of these students are first-generation college graduates. “Think about that: more than one-third of this year’s incoming students are first-generation college graduates beginning medical school. What a remarkable achievement,” he said.
Most students in this class (86 percent) are from New York State, including over one-third from Long Island. Others come from eleven additional states or countries. Women make up 66 percent of those entering RSOM this year.
These new students will study medicine during a period marked by advances such as telemedicine, specialty practices growth, artificial intelligence integration, and improved treatments for previously challenging diseases.
