HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 11, 2018 – High Point University’s Congdon School of Health Sciences welcomed its second Doctor of Physical Therapy class with a White Coat Ceremony on Sept. 9.
The class is composed of 61 students from 18 states, selected from more than 1,300 applications.
Graduating in 2021, this class of future physical therapists will see their jobs grow by 28 percent through 2026, much faster than the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“It is incredibly rewarding to welcome our students into the physical therapy profession that we love,” said Dr. Eric Hegedus, founding chair of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. “We were privileged to welcome them to the family in front of their own families and loved ones.”
Last fall, HPU officially opened the $120 million Congdon Hall, home to the Congdon School of Health Sciences and Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, prestigious faculty and newly designed curriculum, the schools have created a cornerstone for medical innovation at HPU.
The white coat, worn by medical professionals, is often seen as a symbol of authority, purity, professionalism, caring and trust. Since its inception in 1993, the White Coat Ceremony has become a national and international phenomenon among medical schools. The ceremony was designed to welcome new medical students into the medical profession and alert beginning students to the need to balance excellence in science with compassionate patient care. It has since been adopted by hundreds of colleges and universities involved in the education and training of a variety of health and medical professions, including physical therapists.
