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White coat ceremony marks first transition by Sophia Rodriguez Of The Post and Courier The 50 students in the class of 2008 of MUSC’s physical therapy educational program had a small, dignified and landmark white-coat ceremony on Friday as the first class that will graduate from the school with doctorates in physical therapy.   The ceremony, held at The Church of the Holy Communion in downtown Charleston, is a common practice at medical schools. Students were presented with their white coats as they made the symbolic leap from their basic science classes to their clinical studies.   Class of 2008 physical therapy students Brian Whittington, from left, Graham Wade, Stephanie Thompson and Lindsay Hull recite their oath during the Physical Therapy White Coat Ceremony July 20. “I think it is a privilege to be part of the first class,” said Sara Selander, president of the class.   Past-president of the American Physical Therapy Association Ben Massey was the keynote speaker at both ceremonies celebrating the classes of 2008 and 2009. He emphasized peer review, ethical responsibility and autonomy.   He also commended the South Carolina chapter of the association for getting two U.S. senators to co-sponsor legislation the association introduced to Congress for the fourth time to allow Direct Access for Medicare patients. Direct Access is the right for a patient to obtain the services of a physical therapist without a legal requirement of a referral or prescription from a doctor.   “This is huge,” he said in his speech. “So far, we have 15 co-sponsors in the Senate and South Carolina has two of those. Definitely a feather in your cap. Now if we could just get some South Carolina representatives on the bill, then you really would be my heroes.” Kathleen Cegles, MUSC’s program director for the physical therapy educational program, said the College of Health Professions started working to make the degree transition in 2002. She said that admissions to the program have almost tripled since switching to the doctoral degree.   “That’s in combination with physical therapy being a ‘hot job,’ “ she said, noting its popularity on several national lists of desired jobs for college graduates. Cegles said now between the longer average lifespan and soldiers who are injured in war, there is and will continue to be a rise in need for physical therapy services.   It hasn’t been an easy ride for these students. The curriculum has been revised significantly to accommodate the expectations that come with the new degree.   “They’ve changed the curriculum on us a lot, so we’ve kind of been the guinea pigs,” said Jessica Grigg, a student in the program. “I don’t want to say we’ll learn more, but it will be hands-on, so it’s what we’ll be doing for the rest of our lives.” Editor’s note: The article ran July 20 in the Post and Courier and is reprinted with permission.     Friday, Aug. 3, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.