Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program Holds White Coat Ceremony for the DPT class of 2018

On Wednesday, December 2, the Samuel Merritt University (SMU) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program held its White Coat Ceremony for the DPT class of 2018.  The DPT department also awarded the 2015 SMU Excellence in Physical Therapy Clinical Education Award to Stanford Health Care at the event.

The DPT White Coat Ceremony symbolizes the learning transition from the classroom into the clinic. The students recited an oath affirming their commitment to clinical education.

"This ceremony marks the transition of the DPT students’ education from the classroom and laboratory into the clinic," said Sharon Gorman, Associate Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Department. "Students, who have nearly completed their first semester of the program, will go on their first clinical placement the first week of January. To recognize the importance of clinical education, and specifically the contribution of their clinical instructors and patients towards their education, we celebrate this by presenting students with their white coats. Family, friends, and other supporters of the students are invited to celebrate this transition and progression in their education as physical therapists."

Because the clinical sites and clinical instructors are so important in this portion of our student’s education, the DPT department also uses the White Coat Ceremony each year to recognize an outstanding clinical partner with the SMU Excellence in Physical Therapy Clinical Education Award. This year Stanford Health Care was recognized, and their Center Coordinator for Clinical Education, Dr. Lori Beyer, was the keynote speaker. Dr. Beyer also presented the students with their white coats.

pictured: top - DPT class of 2018
pictured: bottom - Deborah Diaz, Lori Beyer, Gaye Raymond, Nicole Christensen

Thank you to all participants:
SMU DPT Class of 2018
SMU Dept of Physical Therapy co-chairs Dr. Nicole Christensen & Deborah Diaz
SMU Dept of Physical Therapy Director of Clinical Education Dr. Gaye Raymond
Representing SMU Office of Academic Affairs Dr. Terry Nordstrom, Interim Vice President of Enrollment & Student Services
Representing Stanford Health Care, Center Coordinator of Clinical Education Lori Beyer, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, COMT
SMU Dept of Physical Therapy Faculty & Staff