Doctor of Physical Therapy program holds White Coat Ceremony
Posted: July 11, 2011[cincopa AYDA5pKM5GbL]
ATSU’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program celebrated its annual White Coat and Pinning ceremony on July 8. The ceremony was held at the Mesa Arts Center in downtown Mesa, Ariz., with 124 DPT students in attendance. Ann Lee Burch, PT, MS, MPH, EdD, chair and associate professor, physical therapy department, gave the welcoming address and encouraged the Class of 2012 to “slow down and savor their third clinical year as the touchstone learning experience of a lifetime.” Douglas Wood, DO, PhD, senior vice president-academic affairs presented the background, history and significance of the White Coat Ceremony. Special to this year’s ceremony was guest speaker Al White, vice mayor of Flagstaff, Ariz., who gave an inspiring speech from the patient’s perspective on how important physical therapists have been to his physical and emotional quality of life. Mr. White is an active advocate for disability rights and is running for mayor of Flagstaff in the 2012 election.