HPU welcomed 60 physical therapy students on Sept. 13 during a white coat ceremony.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 17, 2019 – High Point University’s Congdon School of Health Sciences welcomed its third Doctor of Physical Therapy class with a White Coat Ceremony on Sept. 13.
The class is comprised of 60 students from 22 states, selected from more than 1,375 applications.
This year, HPU welcomed its first married couple to the physical therapy program. Stephanie and Taggart Wilbur have a passion for helping people and look forward to this next chapter.
“It’s an honor to participate in the white coat ceremony and be welcomed into the profession,” says Stephanie Wilbur, physical therapy doctoral student. “It marks a great milestone, reminding me how far I’ve come and I’m excited to continue the journey.”
Graduating in 2022, this class of future physical therapists will see their jobs grow by 28% from 2016 through 2026, much faster than the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“With each incoming class comes the opportunity to transform and continue to grow the physical therapists of tomorrow,” said Dr. Eric Hegedus, founding chair of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. “It is an honor to be a part of this momentous occasion and welcome students to the family, with their own families and loved ones present.”
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.