On November 2 Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) celebrated its eighth Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) white coat ceremony where 58 students in cohort eight were given their white coats as a symbol of the transition from didactic studies to clinical practice.
Dr. Michael Bartholomew, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Director of Clinical Education, and Dr. Richard P. Nielsen, University President, were in attendance. Dr. Steven Wilkinson, a faculty member within the DPT program and student-selected speaker, spoke about always being “thirsty” for knowledge and striving to always learn what is new within the profession.
Jeremy Jenkins, a DPT program student and student-selected speaker, spoke about the special bond that he and his classmates had with each and every one of the DPT faculty. Jenkins went through professor by professor and talked about inside jokes, experiences, and what they learned from each professor.
Lori Sisk, Director of Student and Alumni affairs, lead the presentation of the white coats to the students. During the ceremony, white coats were bestowed upon the students from a variety of DPT faculty including Dr. Wes McWhorter, DPT Program Director, and Assistant Program Director, Dr. Joel Tenbrink.
DPT student in cohort eight, Describing her experience at the white coat ceremony, Amelie Bruya, DPT student in cohort eight, said, “This white coat ceremony represents the incredible amount of time we’ve spent trying to soak up information in lectures and hours spent at the library that will now allow us to start making a difference for patients in the clinic. I also enjoyed seeing so many of my classmate’s friends and family because we see only a small part of each other in class. Everyone has a special network of people in their life that has been a part of our journey through the DPT program and it was great getting to meet some of them.”
Amelie was inspired to obtain her DPT because she desired to go into a profession where she could actively interact with people. She chose RMUoHP because of the, “combination of impressively qualified faculty who were also very invested in the students and teaching what they are passionate about.”
Now that she and so many others have crossed this huge milestone from mostly didactic work into clinical settings she and her classmates are preparing to head out into the real world and apply what they have learned in the classroom, in real life situations and clinics.
At the end of the semester, each student will head out on three, 15-week clinical rotations. Some of the students will spend their rotations at the same clinic and some students will move around to different clinics. Some will move to different states as well. Amelie will conduct her rotations in Spokane, Washington for an OP Ortho, in an Inpatient Rehab facility, and an Acute care facility. Amelie is most looking forward to being able to practice and learn how to combine all of the knowledge she has gained into taking care of patients.
We are so proud of all of our students and this milestone in their career. We wish all of them the best of luck during their clinical rotations next semester and throughout the rest of the year until graduation.
