DPT’s White Coat Ceremony

Inaugural DPT White Coat Ceremony

Draws a Crowd By Hunter Gatling ’24 / Photos by Ty Cornett

Charleston Southern hosted its inaugural white coat ceremony for the Doctor of Physical Therapy’s class of 2024 on Sept. 17. This is the program’s first professionalism ceremony since it first began accepting applications in July 2021. The DPT class is comprised of 48 students, who entered the program in May of this year.

“These ceremonies are viewed as a rite of passage into the world of patient care. Much different than what you have with graduation from other programs,” said Dr. Walt Jenkins, who was the keynote speaker for the ceremony. Jenkins currently serves as the president of the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy.

The CSU DPT program was granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education in April 2022. The DPT program is 31-months long, the fastest DPT program in the state of South Carolina, according to Dr. Jacob Thorp, the program’s director.

Students also have the option to pursue a Master of Business Administration in healthcare management along with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Charleston Southern University is the only institution in the state of South Carolina to offer an MBA and DPT dual degree program. Learn more about the degree at charlestonsouthern.edu/dpt.

The first cohort of the DPT program receives their white coats, takes a vow of service, and gathers for a group photo.