First-year students at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) will receive their white coats in a ceremony that officially recognizes them as student doctors. This is the first of many milestones they will celebrate as a class. The WVSOM Class of 1978 will also celebrate a milestone the same weekend – 40 years since their graduation.

The Convocation and White Coat Ceremony will mark the Class of 2022’s commitment to a life of health care service. The special event will take place at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Conference Center located in the WVSOM Student Center.

Naomi Wriston, D.O., M.S., FAOCOPM, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker. She was a member of the first graduating class, which comprised of 36 students. This year, 206 first-year students will participate in the coating ceremony.

Wriston is a native of West Virginia and received her Bachelor of Science degree in education from West Virginia University and a master’s degree in science education from the University of Maryland. She is certified in family medicine and occupational medicine and is a fellow of the American Osteopathic College of Occupational and Preventive Medicine. She currently serves as the assistant medical director with OhioHealth Employer Services in Columbus, Ohio, and her clinical practice includes Executive Physical Exams for international companies.

The White Coat Ceremony coincides with WVSOM’s Alumni Weekend, taking place Aug. 23-25, which is hosted by the Alumni Association. Graduates return to campus for continuing medical education, a barbecue Friday night and reunion dinner Saturday night.

There will be limited seating at the White Coat Ceremony and tickets are required for admission. Visitors without a ticket may view the ceremony via livestream on campus in the Roland P. Sharp Alumni Conference Center.