UPIKE Newsroom

The Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) held its traditional White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, April 5, in the Health Professions Education Building. Fifty-nine members of the Class of 2027 received their white coats before a gathering of family, friends and university faculty.

KYCO Dean Renee Reeder, O.D., FAAO, FBCLA, FSLS, FIACLE, welcomed attendees and shared reflections on the meaningful steps that lie ahead in their journey to becoming optometrists.

“You’re about to start a whole new chapter where you’ll be caring for real people, putting your knowledge to work, and living out our mission to serve the underserved in this region,” said Reeder. “This is where it all starts to come together. It’s not just eyes—it’s lives.”

The White Coat Ceremony represents a key turning point for the Class of 2027, signifying their shift from academic studies to hands-on clinical practice, and highlighting their commitment to patient care. This event is an important milestone in their path to becoming optometrists and is part of a long-standing tradition observed by health profession schools across the country. 

Brad Lane, O.D., MBA, M.Ed., from Mullens, W.Va., delivered the keynote address for the ceremony. Lane is a dedicated optometrist and the proud son of a coal miner. Lane is a co-owner of Appalachian Eye Care and is highly involved in advancing the field of optometry. He serves on several boards and committees, including as past co-chair of the American Optometric Association’s Education Committee and a diplomate of the American Board of Optometry. Lane has received numerous accolades, including being named the West Virginia Young Optometric Physician of the Year in 2013 and the Optometric Physician of the Year in 2017. He is also committed to his community, serving as the Vice Chairman of the Concord University Board of Governors, a founder of Concord’s White Coat Society, and a philanthropist supporting local scholarships and charities.

Lane delivered an inspiring message, reminding students of the profound meaning behind the moment and the symbolic weight of the white coat—not merely as a garment, but as a representation of their dedication to the profession, their responsibility to patients and the trust they are preparing to uphold in the field of optometry.

“This moment right here marks the beginning of something truly extraordinary. You are not just slipping on a piece of clothing, you are stepping into a calling,” said Lane. “Today you are beginning a journey that goes far beyond textbooks. You are entering a world where you will hold a flashlight with people’s lives, literally and figuratively. Vision is the most precious gift, and you are becoming its guardian.”

During the ceremony, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Associate Professor of Optometry Cliff Caudill, O.D., FAAO, FNAP, coated students and led them in reciting the KYCO Professional Conduct Pledge, affirming their commitment to their profession and the well-being of their future patients.

“The ceremony is a right of passage and symbolizes the efforts they have made in their commitment to our mission and the vision and healthcare of the patients they serve in our community as they train,” said Caudill. “Congratulations to the Class of 2027 as they embark on the next phase of training. We are so proud to see you join us in clinical care!”