White Coat Ceremony

Ceremony Speakers

Radha Nandagopal, MD

Vice Dean for Educational and Faculty Affairs

Radha Nandagopal, MD, was among the founding faculty members of the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. She designed and developed the Art and Practice of Medicine course and served as the inaugural chair of the Admissions Committee from 2016 to 2024. Dr. Nandagopal earned her undergraduate degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, received her MD with Honors from the University of Washington School of Medicine, completed residency training at Emory University, and trained as a fellow at the National Institutes of Health. She is a board-certified pediatric endocrinologist, practicing in Spokane, Washington, her hometown, for the past 11 years. She is deeply committed to the WSU College of Medicine’s mission and is proud of our graduates as they enter the physician workforce in Washington. She served as Education Director for Clinical Skills from 2017 to 2021, oversaw clinical examinations in the MD program until 2023, and was appointed as Associate Dean for Faculty Development in 2021. She became the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Continuing Professional Development in 2023, and in July 2025, was promoted to the role of Vice Dean for Educational and Faculty Affairs.

Program Statement

The physician’s white coat symbolizes to me our unique expertise, hard-earned wisdom, and dedication to a profession rooted in service. At its simplest, this ceremony is our way of welcoming you into the community of physicians, and a reminder that you will not be alone.

Regent Enrique Cerna

Enrique Cerna was appointed to the Washington State University Board of Regents in March 2020. A native from Wapato, Washington, Cerna Graduated from WSU in 1975. He is a veteran journalist with 43 years in Seattle media. Cerna is a ten-time Northwest Regional Emmy Award winner and has received numerous honors for his community-focused journalism, including induction into the Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2013.

A longtime civic leader, Cerna has served on numerous community boards, including the Washington State Historical Society, Yakima Valley Museum, and United Way of King County. He also co-chaired the successful $40 million Plaza Roberto Maestas campaign to develop low-income housing in Seattle.