Cancer survivor Tiffany Hang's healthcare journey begins after 'White Coat' ceremony

The 'White Coat' ceremony is a rite of passage for students getting into healthcare. For 1st year medical student Tiffany Hang, it's about stepping into the other side of healthcare.

The Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth was packed with students and family for UNT Health's 'White Coat Ceremony' on Wednesday afternoon. It's a milestone moment for first-year nursing and medical students stepping into the healthcare field. For them, donning a white coat is a symbol.

"That this is more than just a job," UNT Health President Dr. Kirk Calhoun said. "That patients are trusting you with their care."

First-year medical student at UNT Health's Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Tiffany Hang, knows that all too well.

"So being able to be here today is like, really life changing," Hang said. "Because I didn't think I'd be able to make it here, especially after having to go through so much treatment."

In 2019, Hang was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. She battled and beat cancer not once, but twice. She says her experience as a patient will make her a better doctor.

"I think being able to relate at a deeper level is something that I will always take to heart, and something that really makes me excited to become a physician," Hang said.

Hang is a member of the UNT Health's TCOM Class of 2029. She hopes to work with cancer patients when she becomes a doctor.