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The first thing James Caldwell, OD ‘89, Resident ‘90, FAAO, EdM, did when he walked into the Hafter Student Community Center gymnasium for the walkthrough the day before last week’s White Coat ceremonies was to move the speaker’s podium six inches to the left and then move all of the flower baskets to different parts of the stage from where they’d originally been placed.
Insiders at the Elkins Park campus of Drexel University are used to Dr. Caldwell’s attention to even the most minute details. While planning White Coat and Commencement ceremonies is a team effort with help from a lot of people – most notably Shannon Boss, executive director of Student Retention and Academic Operations for the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) and Niki M. Kelley, assistant dean of Graduate Enrollment, Operations, and Student Administration in the College of Medicine - Dr. Caldwell is the lead dog on the sled as he’s been planning these events on this campus for more than 25 years and what he says usually is how it goes.
“It’s all about providing a flawless and memorable day for students and their families,” said Dr. Caldwell, associate dean of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at PCO. He takes it very seriously because that’s the way he was taught by his mentor, the late John J. Crozier, OD ‘48, FAAO, a longtime administrator who served as registrar, director of Admissions and vice president and dean of Student Affairs during his career at PCO.
“Through the fall 2025 commencement ceremony, we continued to use the blueprint that Dr. John created many years ago - he set the standard for the excellence expected of a PCO (and then formerly Salus) graduation and I felt responsible for continuing this forward to the best of my ability to honor his legacy,” said Dr. Caldwell. “And, we modeled the white coat ceremony after commencement, except instead of diplomas, we present the white coat.”
That dedication and effort was not lost on the students and families who participated in two White Coat ceremonies on Friday, April 17, 2026, for the Optometry, Audiology and Orthotics and Prosthetics programs at Drexel.
“I think our professors being there and placing the white coats on us was an important moment. They’re really important people who are playing a major role in my education day to day,” said Lila Amer ‘29OD. “The ceremony itself went really smoothly. And, Dr. Caldwell really interjected a lot of emotion, so a big thanks to him.”
Lila’s father, Ihab Amer, found it difficult to express his feelings the moment he saw his daughter put on the white coat for the first time. “It’s a fantastic day for the students and their families,” he said. “It’s great to see a lot of family members here and to see the students being rewarded with their white coats. I’m very proud.”
Kelli Turner ‘29OD, was thrilled to be able to celebrate herself and her peers as they received their white coats. “I’ve seen all the doctors that I work with in their white coats and now I get to wear mine,” she said. “It was like a lightbulb went off and I realized this is what I’m meant to do.”
Kelli’s mom, Victoria Turner, was overwhelmed by the ceremony, which she called “very pleasing, very delightful,” and added that she noticed the ceremony began and ended on time – another detail on which Dr. Caldwell keeps a close eye.
A special part of the ceremonies for Hebatalla Elkhateeb was the Oath of Professionalism that the students – and other health professionals in the audience – stand and recite after the white coats are presented.
That’s because Elkhateeb is a professor in the English department at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and her daughter, Noor Musharraf ‘28OD, Accelerated Scholars Doctor of Optometry program, was among those receiving her white coat. Musharraf’s grandmother and sister also attended the ceremony.
“It was very beautiful to see her put on the coat for the first time. And, I know the hard work that is behind these moments, not only for students but also for faculty,” said Elkhateeb. “I’m happy for all the students. I am there to pave the way for my students to succeed. And, I appreciate all the faculty at Drexel who have performed the same role for my daughter.”
Keynote speaker for both ceremonies was Elisabeth Van Bockstaele, PhD, senior vice provost of Graduate Education, Enrollment and Strategy at Drexel. She visually relayed the nurturing spirit on the Elkins Park campus that will help them grow not only in knowledge and skill, but also in confidence, professionalism and purpose. “Each of you arrived here by a different path. You bring different strengths, experiences and aspirations. But beginning today, you also share something important: you are joining a community of professionals whose work has a direct and lasting impact on people’s lives,” said Dr. Van Bockstaele. “You will not simply be learning techniques or mastering content. You will be developing the judgment, discipline and empathy required to care for real people with real needs.”
It was the first White Coat ceremonies at Drexel for Josephine Ibironke, OD ‘03, Resident ‘04, MPH, FAAO, as PCO dean, who assumed her new role in September 2025. She took the opportunity after each ceremony to visit with the students and meet their families.
“It was a day full of energy. The students were energized, I was energized,” said Dr. Ibironke. “I love the fact that these ceremonies are helping them get ready for the next step.”
