ALLMON PURSUES MEDICAL CAREER

Amanda Allmon, daughter of Roger and Linda Allmon of Jackson, participated in the White Coat Ceremony at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine Aug. 5.

Allmon was a 1994 graduate of Jackson High School and a May, 1998 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. She graduated summa cum laude with an interdisciplinary degree in chemistry, physics and biology.

The White Coat Ceremony is intended to establish a psychological contract for beginning medical students. The importance of "caring" as a significant aspect of curing is stressed.

"To a physician, understanding the emotional needs of a patient should be as important as knowledge of physical anatomy," said Arnold P. Gold, Columbia University medical professor.

Miss Allmon has not decided on a specific field of medicine, but she is fulfilling her dream of "always wanting to become a doctor."