TU's CHP only Maryland school receiving national funding to promote compassionate care

By Megan Bradshaw on August 5, 2016

Towson University’s College of Health Professions is one of just 50 schools nationwide – and the only one in Maryland – to receive 2016 funding to host nursing white coat ceremonies that champion compassionate care.

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation (APGF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) have partnered to help schools of nursing continue to host the ceremonies, which emphasize the importance of providing humanistic, patient-centered care among health professionals.

White coat ceremonies typically consist of the recitation of an oath, an address by an eminent role model, and a reception for students and invited guests. It is a visual reminder of students' oath and commitment to providing high-quality care. Although these ceremonies have been conducted by medical schools for more than 20 years, the APGF-AACN initiative marks the first time a coordinated effort has been developed to offer similar events at schools of nursing. Nursing joins the growing number of health professions that offer "cloaking" ceremonies, including dentistry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and physician assistants among other disciplines.

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation works with physicians in training and in practice, as well as other members of the healthcare team, to instill a culture of respect, dignity and compassion for patients and professionals. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is the national voice for more than 790 university and four-year college education programs in nursing.

TU hosted its inaugural nursing white coat ceremony in the fall of 2015. Watch the video.