2026 BIMS Lab Coat Ceremony
The UVA School of Medicine celebrated first-year students in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (BIMS) at an event marking the transition to the next phase of their graduate careers
The UVA School of Medicine celebrated first-year students in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at the 2026 BIMS Lab Coat Ceremony on April 17. This event, which is co-sponsored by the UVA Medical Alumni Association and the BIMS Program, marks the students’ transition to the next phase of their graduate careers when they begin their mentored research projects.
Family, friends, faculty, and staff gathered in McLeod Auditorium to recognize 64 students in the following disciplines: Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics (5), Biophysics (10), Cell Biology (8), Experimental Pathology (7), Microbiology (17), Neuroscience (11), and Pharmacology (5).
“The path you all have chosen is important and meaningful. Medical research advances knowledge, saves lives, creates new companies, industries and jobs. It is a big part of what makes America great,” said School of Medicine Interim Dean Colin Derdeyn, MD, in his remarks to the students.
Each student received a personally embroidered lab coat as a gift from the UVA Medical Alumni Association. To highlight the critical role of mentorship in our programs, faculty mentors for each discipline coated their students.
During the ceremony, eight MSTP students who completed their pre-clinical medical school classes and their Step 1 exams were also recognized as they transitioned to their research labs to begin the PhD portion of their studies.
In addition to Derdeyn, speakers included Janet V. Cross, PhD, associate dean for graduate and medical scientist programs; Barry Collins, associate dean for medical alumni affairs and executive director of the UVA Medical Alumni Association and Medical School Foundation; and Adrian Halme, PhD, assistant dean for graduate research and training.
Following the ceremony, the students, families, mentors, and other guests enjoyed a reception. Congratulations to all of our BIMS graduate students for advancing in their scientific journey!
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