HMSOM White Coat Ceremony Welcomes Eighth Cohort of Students
July 17, 2025
Incoming class includes 168 future physicians
A new chapter in medicine began today as the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine officially welcomed its eighth class during the White Coat Ceremony, held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.
The event marked a meaningful milestone for 168 incoming students, each donning the iconic white coat that symbolizes their entry into the medical profession. These future physicians now embark upon the rigorous path to earning their Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degrees—whether on a three-year fast track to residency, or a four-year option that allows for expanded training and specialization.
“This medical school continues to attract and nurture some of the nation’s most talented future physicians,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “We created this academic organization to rethink and reimagine medical education—and year after year, we’re seeing that vision come to life.”
“With every new class, we advance our mission to transform healthcare and medical education,” added Jeffrey Boscamp, M.D., president and dean of the School.
The Class of 2029 was selected from a highly competitive pool of approximately 5,708 applicants. More than half—50.6 percent—of the incoming students are New Jersey residents. The cohort reflects a wide range of backgrounds, with students collectively speaking 20 languages beyond English.
Since welcoming its inaugural class of 60 students in 2018, HMSOM has steadily expanded. Just last month, the School celebrated its largest graduating class to date, with 136 new doctors entering residency programs across the nation.
Students at HMSOM benefit from a unique curriculum that includes the option for a fourth year focused on graduate study, immersive clinical experience, or research. A cornerstone of the program is the Human Dimension course, a longitudinal experience that connects students with families in the community—offering hands-on, real-world insight into healthcare beyond the hospital setting.