On January 17, 2024 annual White Coat Ceremony of the first year students of the American MD Program was held at Tbilisi State Medical University. The event was chaired by Professor Archil Undilashvili, Head of the American MD Program and Physical Rehabilitation Policy and Strategic Management Department of TSMU. Professor Zurab Vadachkoria, Rector of TSMU greeted the audience and wished success to the first year students of the American MD Program. The TSMU rector also expressed his gratitude to the US government, the US Embassy in Georgia, the Emory University professors, the US Army Medical Research Directorate-Georgia, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the Richard M. Lugar Center for Public Health for partnership. The audience was also addressed by Professor Irakli Natroshvili, Rector-Elect of Tbilisi State Medical University (he will exercise the authority on February 13, 2024). Professor Irakli Natroshvili talked about perspectives of the US MD Program for the graduates and the authority the program managed to gain in a relatively short period of time.
The first year students of American MD Program were greeted by Professor Gordon Churchward Assistant Dean for Medical Education & Student Affairs and Professor of Microbiology and Immunology of the Emory University School of Medicine, Prof. Mary Jo Lechowicz of Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology of Emory University School of Medicine, Associate Professor Michael C. Lowe Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery at Emory University School of Medicine, Col. Matthew R Scherer, US Army Medical Research Directorate-Georgia, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Assoc. Prof. Eka Ekaladze, Director of US MD Program, Professor Rima Beriashvli and Levan Alavidze, a successful eleven semester student of the US MD Program. The event was also attended by Mr. Archil Gagnidze Director of the Walter Reed US Army Medical Research Office in Georgia, Dr. Raisa Chyorny a family medicine doctor of Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, parents of the students and TSMU academic and administrative staff.
Col. Matthew R Scherer, US Army Medical Research Directorate-Georgia, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research for his contribution in strengthening partnership between the USA and Georgia and the development of the American MD Program was awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of Tbilisi State Medical University by the decision of academic council of TSMU. In addition, for their valuable contribution to the development of the American MD Program the teachers of module – “Human Creativity” Nana Khetsuriani, Lasha Kurdashvili, Ia Khutsishvili and Ana Mgaloblishvili also “Become a Doctor” course teachers: Gvantsa Vardosanidze, Elene Azmaiparashvili, Nino Toria, Mariam Gugunashvili, Nino Kurashvili, Salome Voronovi and Tamta Tolordava were awarded with special prizes.
One of the most emotional parts of the event was dressing the first semester students in white coats. 56 students were enrolled in the USMD Program in the 2023-2024 academic year.
The American MD Program was established at Tbilisi State Medical University in collaboration with Emory University School of Medicine in 2013. The program is based on the Emory University School of Medicine curriculum
