White Coat Ceremony

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation is dedicated to creating innovative medical education programs, which foster humanism in medicine. The Foundation established the White Coat Ceremony in 1993 at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. Tufts University School of Medicine held its first White Coat Ceremony in the fall of 1997. At this ceremony each student is physically given his or her first white coat in the medical community by deans and faculty of the medical school who believes in the students' ability to carry on the noble tradition of doctoring. The Humanism in Medicine pins affixed to the White Coats are provided as a gift from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

Arrival Time

Members of the First-Year Class are asked to arrive at the Back Bay Events Center, 180 Berkley Street by 8:15 am. (There will be staff available to direct students to the line-up area.) Students will pick up their white coats and be placed in line for the procession into the Center. The class will receive more information by e-mail from the Office of Student Affairs the week of the ceremony.

Attire

Students should dress in professional/interview attire. Students should not wear suit coats, blazers or jackets. Please do not bring backpacks, handbags or other valuables.

Guests

Theatre: Family and guests should go directly to the Back Bay Events Center main entrance and proceed to John Hancock Hall. Doors to the Center will open at 8:15 am. (Students will be directed downstairs to pick up their White Coat and to get into Procession Order.)

Reception: Students and guests (up to four) are invited to a Luncheon Reception at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers, located at 50 Park Plaza, immediately after the ceremony. This is a social event with no formal program, providing an opportunity for students and families to meet and mingle. (Although we encourage students and guests to join us, attendance at the reception is optional.)

Special Assistance

The Back Bay Events Center is fully accessible to persons using wheel chairs.  You should notify the medical school in advance if a member of your party needs special assistance. Please contact Dean Matias at john.matias@tufts.edu. Please note that we are not equipped to provide wheelchairs or transportation.

Photographs

The Medical School has arranged for photographs to be taken of each student at the ceremony which will be available for purchase. All class members will receive a photograph of the White Coat Ceremony compliments of the Office of Student Affairs.

Map

Click to view a Google map showing the location of the Back Bay Events Center, the Tremont Street Garage, the Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers and the location of the Medical School.

Parking

Parking is available at the Tufts Medical Center/Tremont Street Garage (274 Tremont Street) for the daily rate of $8.00 with event validation. The Back Bay Events Center (180 Berkley Street) is a 10 minute walk from the Tremont Street Garage.  Tufts validation stamps will be available at both the White Coat Ceremony site and the Boston Park Plaza reception site.  Parking is also available at the Garage @ 100 Clarendon, 100 Clarendon Street (one block from the Back Bay Events Center) for the daily rate of $17.00 with validation from the Back Bay Events Center.

Driving Instructions

From Interstate 90 East

Take Exit 22 - Prudential Center Copley Square. Stay on right, following signs to Copley Square. At end of ramp, continue straight onto Stuart Street. Continue on Stuart Street to 6th light, turn right onto Tremont Street. The Tremont Street Garage is on the left. (see below for directions to the Back Bay Events Center)

From Interstate 93 North

Take Exit 20 - South Station/Logan Airport. Staying in left lane, take quick left onto Frontage Road. Follow Signs for South Station/Downtown. At 4th light, turn left onto Kneeland Street. At 6th light take a left onto Tremont Street. The Tremont Street Garage is on the left. (see below for directions to the Back Bay Events Center)

From Interstate 93 South

Take Exit 23 - Purchase Street. Purchase Street becomes Surface Artery Way. Follow Surface Artery Way to end and take right onto Kneeland Street. At 4th light, turn left onto Tremont Street. The Tremont Street Garage is on the left. (see below for directions to the Back Bay Events Center)

From Logan Airport/Ted Williams Tunnel

Follow Ted Williams Tunnel to Exit 25. Stay to the right, at end of ramp turn right onto Congress Street. At 1st light, turn onto D Street. At 3rd light, turn right onto Summer Street. At 4th light, turn left onto Surface Artery Way. Follow Surface Artery Way to end and take right onto Kneeland Street. At 4th light off Kneeland, turn left onto Tremont Street. The Tremont Street Garage is on the left. (see below for directions to the Back Bay Events Center).

To the Back Bay Events Center from the Tremont Street Garage

• The Tremont Street Garage is located on the left at 274 Tremont Street.
• The Back Bay Events Center is a 10 minute walk from the garage. Exit the garage and walk up Tremont Street to Stuart Street.  Take a left on Stuart Street and continue on Stuart Street for 0.4 miles.  The entrance to the Back Bay Events Center is on the corner of Stuart and Berkley Streets. 

MBTA (Public Transportation) Instructions

From Logan Airport or Via Blue Line

Airport shuttle bus #22 and #33 provide free service between all terminals and the train station. From the Airport stop, ride the Blue Line to the State Street stop. Change trains to the Orange Line and get off at Tufts Medical Center stop. Exit the station from the Tremont Street side. Turn right out of the station and walk up Tremont Street to Stuart Street. Take a left on Stuart Street and continue on Stuart Street for 0.4 miles.  The entrance to the Back Bay Events Center is on the corner of Stuart and Berkley Street.

Via Orange Line

Get off at the Tufts Medical Center stop. Exit the station at the Tremont Street side. Turn right out of the station and walk up Tremont Street to Stuart Street. Take a left on Stuart Street and continue on Stuart Street for 0.4 miles.  The entrance to the Back Bay Events Center is on the corner of Stuart and Berkley Street.

Via Green Line

Get off at the Arlington Street stop. Exit the station and travel on Boylston Street for one block to Berkley Street.  Turn left on Berkley and continue for two block toward Stuart. The entrance to the Back Bay Events Center is on the corner of Stuart and Berkley Street.

Via Red Line

Get off at the Park Street stop. At Park Street, change to the Green Line and get off at the Arlington Street stop and follow the directions for the Green Line above.

Tufts University has preferred rates at a number of hotels.  A listing can be found on our University Travel website and reservation can be made online.

You are also able to contact hotels that are located near the Medical School directly about rates and reservations.  You should inquire if they offer a Tufts preferred rate.

• Boston Park Plaza, 50 Park Plaza at Arlington Street, Boston, MA 617-426-2000.
• The Colonnade Hotel, 120 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 617-424-7000.
• Courtyard by Marriott Boston - Tremont Hotel, 275 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 617-426-1400.
• Doubletree Club Hotel Boston Downtown, 821 Washington Street, Boston, MA 800-222-8733.
• Four Seasons Hotel Boston, 200 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 617-338-4400.
• Loews Boston Hotel, 154 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 617-266-7200.
• Taj Hotel - Boston, 15 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 617-536-5700.
• Revere Hotel Boston Common, 200 Stuart Street, Boston, MA 617-482-1800.
• The Ritz Carlton, Boston Common, 10 Avery Street, Boston, MA 617-574-7100.
• W Hotel Boston, 100 Stuart Street, Boston, MA 617-261-8700.