On September 14, incoming Doctor of Physical Therapy students participated in an induction ceremony program at the Davis Auditorium at the University of Vermont Medical Center. DPT Program Director Barbara Tschoepe and Dean Patricia Prelock welcomed the 36 students.

Dr. Tschoepe led the students in reciting the DPT Professional Pledge, in which they promised to embrace professional duty to provide ethical, effective and compassionate physical therapist services and positively influence the health of society.

“In this ceremony, we officially welcome our DPT students into the physical therapy profession, celebrate their past achievements and invite them to fully participate in our collaborative learning community here at UVM,” Tschoepe explained. “As with many other professional doctoral degrees, our UVM DPT Induction ceremony is the first of three celebrations to benchmark accomplishments while in the program: entrance, academic completion and clinical experience completion that ultimately leads to graduation.”

Keynote speaker Jennifer Green, an assistant professor in the Department of Healthcare Studies at The College at Brockport, challenged the Class of 2021 to embrace their role identity as movement system experts who add value to teams of professional peers, promoting health through movement and leading changes in health care.