Touro University White Coat Ceremony

Today was such an AWESOME day. We were able to attend the White Coat Ceremony for the following classes, Osteopathic Medicine 2015, Physician Assistants 2013, and of course the awesome Physical Therapy students of 2014. It was amazing to see how special and honorable it really is to be able to wear the 'white coat' the following was printed inside the program, and I thought it was really great and put all this schooling into perspective.

Hippocrates advised healthcare providers how they should dress. The dress of healers of primitive societies was an important part of the paraphernalia of healing. The while coat, worn by individuals to connote their education and credentials as healers, is a symbol widely recognized by today's society.

The white coat can reassure even the most anxious that their complaints and concerns will be dealt with competently and seriously. It conveys a sense of authority and guides behaviors of both patient and healthcare provider. The white coat is a cloak of compassion.

The Touro University Nevada White Coat Ceremony was developed to honor our students in osteopathic medicine, physician assistant studies, and physical therapy as they accept the professional responsibilities inherent in their relationship with patients. As students receive their white coats, we encourage them to think about the time-honored professions that they are joining and wear their coats with the requisite sense of professionalism and seriousness.

The ceremony started out with an invocation from the school Rabbi, he even spoke in Hebrew for part of it, which was so cool to hear. Then a description of the White Coat Ceremony and what it symbolizes. The presented the white coats to all the students as they read each students name. It was really interesting because they had one professor shake the coat first, to symbolize the new beginning of their education, another professor put the coat on, and then the Dean of each program shook each students hand after to symbolize them being welcomed into the Touro Medical family. I loved it! I think it is so much more meaningful when they explain how everything is so symbolic. After the coatings, they all stood and took the oath for the first time, committing themselves to the professional careers they have ahead.

As a physical therapy professional, i embrace my responsibility and accountability to the individuals I serve, the community as a whole, and my profession.

I believe that physical therapy is a calling to help the whole person- body, mind and soul. As a physical therapist, I will strive not only to resolve movement disorders but prevent them, while inspiring others to reach beyond barriers and limitations. I commit myself to the following professional obligations and values:

To use the best evidence and skills of my profession at all times;

To exercise judgment to the highest degree of which I am capable when determining he treatment to be offered;

To refrain from treatment when it will not benefit the patient;

To always place the welfare of my patients above my own self-interest. I pledge to uphold and preserve the rights and esteem of every person placed in my care;

To hold all confidences in trust;

To exercise all aspects of my calling with dignity and honor;

I commit myself to the highest ideal of service, lifelong learning and the pursuit of knowledge.

I will respect the scientific gains and clinical evidence of the physical therapists who have proceeded me and I will use this knowledge in educating those who come after me.

Dr. Suzanne Brown, Director of the School of Physical Therapy

Ryan being coated

The three of us, happy and proud little family!

Steve and Melissa Bartlett, and their son Jayden (3 weeks older than Easton). Steve and Ryan worked together in Logan, and both got into the PT program here, it's been fun for them to have each other in class since they get along so well!