BIDDEFORD — Three area residents recently participated in the annual White Coat Ceremony at the University of New England College of
Osteopathic Medicine. The ceremony formally recognizes the transition
students make from lay persons to those assuming the responsibility of
physicians.

Samuel Madore, son of Marc and Jennifer Madore of Turner; Matthew Sonagere, son of Ken and Kathy Sonagere of Auburn; and Emily Harvey-Garcia, daughter of Arthur Harvey and Elizabeth Garcia-O’Keefe of Hartford, all first-year students at the college, participated in the ceremony.

The evening ceremony was held at the Holiday Inn by
the Bay in Portland on Oct. 8. Event highlights included
presentation of the white coats by members of the physician community;
remarks by Marc Hahn, CO, dean of the UNE College of Osteopathic
Medicine; Joel Kase, DO, president of the Maine Osteopathic
Association; David McDermott, president of the Maine Medical
Association; Peter Bell, DO, assistant dean for Ohio University
COM/CORE Pre- and Post-doctorate Education; second-year medical student
Alan Schleier, president of the Student Osteopathic Medical
Association; and the reading of the Osteopathic Oath by Polly Leonard,
DO 1995 UNECOM, president of the UNECOM Alumni Board. A reception followed.