On September 21, 2018, the 6th annual White Coat Ceremony of the American MD Program was held at Tbilisi State Medical University. 

Welcoming the incoming class is always a true celebration. The White Coat Ceremony highlights traditional events that mark the students’ transition from high school to medical society. 

During the ceremony the Rector of the Tbilisi State Medical University, Professor Zurab Vadachkoria, together with distinguished guests coated new students with medical coats as a symbol of their entrance into the medical profession. 

WCC  2017 will be attended by all the students of the program, their friends and parents too. Among them will be the students who has spent 4 weeks in USA, Atlanta. They took part in a special program at Emory University School of Medicine during this summer.

White Coat Ceremony 2018 is significant as it marks 6 years, or a full academic cycle of the American MD program. The first class, admitted 6 years ago will also graduate from the American MD program in this academic year.

The American MD Program was established at Tbilisi State Medical University in collaboration with Emory University School of Medicine. The goal of the program is to make a modern American medical education program available in Georgia in order to produce globally competitive medical professionals.  To achieve this goal, Emory University School of Medicine provides its own medical curriculum and methodological assistance to Tbilisi State Medical University. Students of the American MD Program have a unique opportunity to participate in clinical workshops, exchange programs and clinical training at Emory University.

Some of the unique features of the American MD Program are early introduction to clinical medicine, professional motivation and professional development 

The American MD Program was a brainchild of the late Dr. Ken Walker. Dr. Walker passed away on February 23, 2018. Along with many other successful initiatives in Georgia, the American MD program will carry the memory of him as a reminder of all the good he has done for society globally.