OTD News Volume 5, Issue 1

White Coat Ceremony, Class of 2017 Class of 2017 after their White Coat Ceremony Page 2 OTDNews, Volume V, Issue 1 Why the OTD White Coat Ceremony? Students of the NSU OTD program have a number of rites of passage through which they learn to “transform” from undergraduates to health professionals. The white coat ceremony is one of those. While traditionally this signals the transition into clinical work, in our program it signals the entry into professional coursework. x The white coat represents clinical service and care, and the color represents purity and cleanliness x The short length represents the status of being student, and reminds our students to be lifelong learners x The patch with the caduceus on the left sleeve bears the logo of our program, reminding our students of their commitment to the profession, our program, and our university x The donning of the white coat by our faculty represents our investment into the students’ professional preparation. Inviting a family member to assist with this rite, reminds the student of the support and commitment their families are making x Accepting the white coat means also accepting the responsibility of entering, as a student, into a community of professionals. It serves as a reminder of our values of professionalism, respect for our clients and peers, integrity, and caring. It is a com- mitment to improving the lives of others; their wellness and occupational health; and to ensure conditions that promote social and occupational justice so that our clients can live life to the fullest. Mirtha M. Whaley, PhD, OTR/L i Significance of the White 2 i Pi Theta Epsilon Beta Delta 3 i Class of 2015 Doctoral Pinning 4 i The Legacy Project 5 i SOTA Gives Back to the Community 6 i SOTA cont... 7 i NSU Tampa Spin on Neuroanatomy 8 i Dr. M. D’Amico & Dr. E. Luyego 9 i E. Burke, Fieldwork Support Coordi- nator & Dr. Reinoso Highlight 10 i Dr. T. Decker & Larry Holmes 11 i Student Accomplishments 12 Inside this issue: