“When that doctor told me I would never walk again… he turned out to be wrong. Instead, I got my life back”. Those were the opening words of guest speaker Heather Jennings, PT, DPT, NCS, at The George Washington University (GW) Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) White Coat Ceremony in January, sharing her experience with, and words of a patient who believed he would never walk again and had a significant fear of falling. She was the doctor who helped her patient reclaim his life, a role that all Doctors of Physical Therapy have the power to do.
Jennings spoke of the rewards and pride of being a physical therapist, and called upon the first-year DPT students to be powerful advocates for their patients as they transitioned to their clinical roles.
As the DPT Class of '27 sat in their chairs, the overwhelming emotion was pride. Pride in reflecting on their own growth. Pride in seeing their classmates win the roller-coaster ride of the first semester. And most of all, a shared pride of being part of such a special and unique program–and where it can lead them in their path of becoming physical therapists.
First-year PT student at GW, Megan DeGrouchy, explains that “At first I didn’t know what to expect, but it felt very rewarding to be able to celebrate making it through the first semester and transitioning into clinicals”.
The White Coat Ceremony marks the start of clinical rotations and entry into the profession for DPT students. The ceremony includes words of encouragement and the donning of a white coat, meant to symbolize professionalism, caring, compassion, and a responsibility to the profession and their patients.
When Jason Dring, PT, DPT, GCS, introduced Jennings, he spoke of her as a peer, friend, and mentor. As their academic advisors assist them to don their white coats, they can think of how that could be them one day, and that advisor can become a mentor, peer, coworker.
DeGrouchy also speaks to the impact of sharing this moment with her parents, explaining how “having my family being there and watching me walk across the stage - it meant a lot for them and me which was the most impactful aspect of the ceremony”.
The room was rarely silent as parents, siblings, and spouses cheered on their loved ones. The pride was loud, clear, and shared throughout.
This ceremony spoke to the impact this future generation of physical therapists can have on changing the lives of their patients. They can change the future in and out of the clinic.