Members of the inaugural class of the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine receive their white coats Friday during a ceremony at Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. (All images: Lyon College)
Eighty aspiring dentists took a historic step toward their clinical careers Friday, marking the first-ever white coat ceremony for the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine.
The ceremony, held at Second Presbyterian Church, celebrated the Class of 2028 as the inaugural cohort of the first dental school in Arkansas history. The event serves as a rite of passage, symbolizing the transition from academic study to hands-on patient care and professional ethics.
“Today is an important day in the history of these students and in their journey,” said Dr. Burke Soffe, the school’s founding dean. “It’s an important day for Arkansas and an important day for Lyon College.”
Dr. Burke Soffe, founding dean of the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine, offers a welcome at the school’s first-ever white coat ceremony.
The presentation of the coats was led by Dr. Jennifer Daniels and Dr. Mark Anderson. Following the donning of the coats, the students recited the White Coat Pledge. The oath, led by local dentist and 1994 Lyon College alumnus Dr. Jeff “Jay” Powell, commits the students to lifelong learning and ethical practice.
The event is a significant marker for Batesville-based Lyon College’s expansion into the health sciences as it seeks to address healthcare workforce shortages in the state.
While the students have begun their formal journey, the community will soon see the results. The Lyon College School of Dental Medicine is scheduled to open its patient care clinics later this spring.
Dr. Jay Powell, Lyon College alumnus and central Arkansas dentist, leads the class in the White Coat Pledge.
College President Dr. Melissa Taverner concluded the ceremony, which also featured remarks from Associate Dean Dr. Ashley McMillan and student leader Kaden King.
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