Brooke Anne Elliott, 1998 Seymour High School Valedictorian, was presented with a white doctor’s coat in a ceremony held August 3rd 2002, at East Tennessee State University. Elliott, who is the daughter of Betsy (a fourth grade teacher at Seymour Intermediate School) and John Elliott, was honored with the white coat as a symbol of her entrance into medical school.
The white coat ceremony is a “rite of passage” for beginning medical students. The coat symbolizes the importance of both scientific excellence and compassionate care for the patient as it pertains to the practice of medicine.
The James H. Quillen College of Medicine held its’ first White Coat Ceremony in 1997. During that time, students were presented their coats at a luncheon held during orientation. Since that time, the ceremony has become a climax for the new student orientation program.
Elliott graduated summa cum laude from UT in pre-med this past May. She will be attending James H. Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City. Two other Sevier County residents also received white coats during the ceremony in Johnson City, UT graduate Sarah Edwards and Emory graduate Ainsley Freshour, both from Sevierville.

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