![dental student in scrubs running in a race with kids](https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200_21_9/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_rodolfoolivares-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=oQikkcYS 200w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260_21_9/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_rodolfoolivares-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=80L6z4PC 260w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320_21_9/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_rodolfoolivares-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=fI9X44WH 320w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400_21_9/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_rodolfoolivares-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=0zDa7Am0 400w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520_21_9/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_rodolfoolivares-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=TD69g-Ir 520w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640_21_9/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_rodolfoolivares-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=G2WCU55_ 640w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800_21_9/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_rodolfoolivares-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=uw4dsdWo 800w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040_21_9/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_rodolfoolivares-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=Knq89RFU 1040w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280_21_9/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_rodolfoolivares-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=jTpBDiKU 1280w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600_21_9/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_rodolfoolivares-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=Fks5elBP 1600w)
CUIMC Faculty, Staff, Students Volunteer at Armory After-school Program
Doctors, staff, and students from Columbia University Irving Medical Center celebrated White Coat Day at the Washington Heights Armory last Monday with children in the armory’s CityTrack and Little Feet after-school programs.
About 30 Columbia physicians, staff, and students led the kids through exercise drills, stretches, and relay races and participated in a few events themselves. The afternoon event involved more than 100 youth in grades 2 through 8.
![a doctor leading stretching exercises in front of a group of children](https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_donaldlandry.jpg?itok=6qz_ul5g 200w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_donaldlandry.jpg?itok=_a1fMN29 260w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_donaldlandry.jpg?itok=FGjpoP2N 320w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_donaldlandry.jpg?itok=8T1K2H-S 400w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_donaldlandry.jpg?itok=SEkD1u6m 520w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_donaldlandry.jpg?itok=f3uC6Glp 640w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_donaldlandry.jpg?itok=Nei3LuxM 800w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_donaldlandry.jpg?itok=M-BgW92a 1040w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_donaldlandry.jpg?itok=v70iCEZs 1280w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_donaldlandry.jpg?itok=efK7xjSZ 1600w)
Donald Landry, chair of medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, leads a group of children in stretching exercises. Photo: The Armory Foundation.
Albert Aquino, director of youth programming at the Armory, says the White Coat Day celebration was an opportunity for young people to say "thank you" to health professionals who keep the community safe and healthy.
"As the father of a 2-year-old, I know how important it is to develop positive associations and relationships between a child and their health provider,” Aquino says. “Our event is an intentional effort to connect our young people with the health care leaders of their community."
![a dental school student arm wrestling with child opponent](https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_faraomilabu-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=CjisI2mJ 200w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_faraomilabu-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=aDrwAAGv 260w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_faraomilabu-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=2iR02wtq 320w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_faraomilabu-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=9boqyUQo 400w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_faraomilabu-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=ktPCHPYp 520w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_faraomilabu-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=rNjiimTr 640w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_faraomilabu-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=WddKpPW2 800w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_faraomilabu-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=_yytJnfp 1040w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_faraomilabu-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=iGHHgc4J 1280w, https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600/public/media/images/2022-04/armory_whitecoatday_2022_faraomilabu-cdmstudent.jpg?itok=rnpVblfV 1600w)
Fara Omilabu, a student at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, about to lose a round of arm wrestling. Photo: The Armory Foundation.
During the event, the children wore “white coat” t-shirts in honor of the White Coat Ceremony, which welcomes new medical, dental, and nursing students to the health professions during their first days of school.
References
In the top photo, Rodolfo Olivares, a student in the College of Dental Medicine, checks on his race competition. Photo: The Armory Foundation.
Read more at The Armory Foundation website.