White Coat Ceremony Recognizes Student Clinicians

ORLANDO, November 9, 2010 — Second-year physical therapy students at the University of Central Florida recently donned white coats during a ceremony that honored their growth into the role of student clinician.

The White Coat Ceremony is a time-honored tradition for students who have begun their training in one of the medical sciences. Over the years, patients have come to recognize the white coat as a symbol of authority and validation of the practice of medicine. 

UCF's Program in Physical Therapy still honors this tradition by presenting white coats to second-year students pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy (D.P.T.). This year's White Coat Ceremony was held Oct. 27 in the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center on the Orlando campus. A reception followed in Health and Public Affairs building I atrium.

Below, second-year student Julie Rooy shares her thoughts on what it meant to receive her white coat.

"When I received my white coat, I felt extreme excitement and pride. The blood, sweat and tears from devoting every ounce of my intellectual capacity, time and energy to the development of my profession has paid off. Finally, entering the clinical realm of physical therapy has become a reality! Yet, like many before me, I felt fear knowing that medicine is unlike other professions as it has a direct impact on human life. The responsibility of caring for a patient is a complex one. People expect me to be competent. If I’m wearing a white coat, patients and health care professionals alike will look to me for explanations, opinions and advice. They will trust my judgment and expect me to practice appropriately.

As I began to think about the limitless responsibility I now carry as a student clinician, I realized that the white coat can also be a symbol of humility. Patients will entrust me with their secrets — their private lives, fears, concerns, and sicknesses — even though I am still a student. They will ask challenging and difficult questions. I certainly didn’t learn everything I need to know in one year; as such, answers such as 'I don’t know' or 'I’m not sure' are acceptable responses. Knowing the limit of my skills will earn and maintain the trust and respect granted to me on all levels.

While the white coat may have multiple meanings, one thing is clear: It is not the coat itself that demands these qualities, but the person beneath it. The privilege of wearing a white coat must be earned each and every day."

Thirty-three students received their white coats at the Oct. 27 ceremony.
Among them was Julie Rooy (front row, third from right, wearing red shoes),
author of the accompanying commentary.

Students listen to guest speaker and
alumnus John Scandura, a board-
certified orthopedic specialist.