The Temple/St. Luke's School of Medicine Class of 2030 was honored Friday, Aug. 7, during the 2026 White Coat Ceremony at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia.
Forty-three first-year medical students who will complete all four years of their medical education at Bethlehem-based Temple/St. Luke’s received their white coats, a longstanding symbol of their entry into the medical profession and commitment to patient care.
Among this year’s class are several students with deep ties to the Lehigh Valley, including Saucon Valley native MacKenzie Johnstone and Northampton native Anthony Aulisio. Both students bring personal experiences that inspired their pursuit of medicine and, ultimately, their decision to train close to home.
Johnstone, who was born with the rare genetic condition Kartagener’s Syndrome, received much of her medical care through St. Luke’s while growing up. Those experiences helped shape her interest in medicine and fostered an appreciation for the physicians who guided her care.
“I am incredibly excited to begin medical school in the community where I grew up. Training at St. Luke's is especially meaningful because it gives me the opportunity to learn within the same health system that has cared for my family and me for many years,” shared Johnstone. “I look forward to learning from outstanding physicians, serving the Lehigh Valley community, and developing the knowledge, skills, and compassion needed to become an excellent physician.”
For Aulisio, the journey is equally personal. Born at St. Luke’s, he first discovered his passion for medicine while serving as an EMT at a summer camp for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additional volunteer work in Honduras, where he helped provide health education in a community with limited access to care, reinforced his commitment to serving others.
“This is a full-circle moment for me,” echoed Aulisio. “Serving these vulnerable populations is what inspired me to continue on my path to medicine, a selfless field dedicated to serving others.”
As the Lehigh Valley’s first and only medical school, Temple/St. Luke’s provides aspiring physicians the opportunity to complete their medical education close to home. By cultivating students such as Johnstone and Aulisio, the program is helping build the next generation of physicians who will serve communities throughout the region.
“The White Coat Ceremony marks the beginning of an extraordinary journey toward a career devoted to healing and improving lives,” said Shaden Eldakar-Hein, MD, MS, FACP, Senior Associate Dean of the medical school. “We are excited to welcome these future physicians and help prepare them to meet the evolving health care needs of our communities with skill, empathy and excellence.”
