Freshman medical student Ethan Firestone knew exactly who he wanted to have by his side when he put on his white coat for the first time.

At the Wayne State University School of Medicine’s annual White Coat Ceremony, the younger Firestone was thrilled to receive that important symbol of his chosen path – a short coat emblazoned with a WSU School of Medicine patch, indicating that he and his 289 colleagues are now medical students. The ceremony was held July 27 in the Detroit Opera House following two weeks of orientation for the men and women who make up the Class of 2022.