Gifts made to the College of Medicine Innovation Fund provide valuable resources, experiences and opportunities outside the classroom to help students become extraordinary physicians.
A feeling of validation and purpose washed over Kira Bravo when she slipped into her white coat for the first time.
Bravo, an Omaha native and second-year medical student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Medicine, was one of 137 incoming students who participated in the college’s annual White Coat Ceremony in August 2024.
The ceremony is made possible through gifts made to the College of Medicine Innovation Fund. It represents a rite of passage for incoming medical students that signifies their status as health care professionals.
Bravo comes from a family of nurses, so she was always surrounded by the health care industry. That, coupled with her fascination with anatomy and the human body in high school, put her on the course toward practicing medicine.
“I think all of those paths pointed me toward where I am today,” she said.
Bravo received her bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis. When she was applying to medical schools, Bravo said she was drawn to her hometown because of the support from her family and the strong community she discovered within UNMC.
“The community aspect also really stood out to me,” she said. “Everyone was so passionate about getting to know you as a person, finding out your goals and pushing you toward your best potential.”
Bravo saw the strength of that community during her White Coat Ceremony. Looking at her classmates across the stage and the support from her family in the audience, Bravo knew she was in the right place.
“You could feel the buzz of excitement from all of my colleagues on the stage,” Bravo said. “You could just feel the anticipation to get started and get involved.”
The encouragement and support Bravo received as a first-year student, highlighted by the White Coat Ceremony, propelled her toward success. Now, Bravo can’t wait to use that momentum to continue her journey as a second-year student.
“I’m so excited this year,” she said. “I feel like the faculty has been so encouraging and so enthusiastic about everything that they’ve lectured about, so it makes us excited as students to jump in and be ready to care for patients.”
The annual White Coat Ceremony is only one example of the many experiences, opportunities and resources made available through gifts to the College of Medicine Innovation Fund.
“I just want to thank donors for their support to this fund,” Bravo said. “You have made it possible to have such an inclusive environment where students like me can learn and grow. Your support makes it possible for Nebraska to have such an innovative medical school.”
