Mesa, Arizona - Arizona School of Health Sciences Audiology celebrated its Second Annual White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 2, at the School's Mesa Campus outdoor amphitheater. Over 80 family members and friends enjoyed the late afternoon weather and witnessed nine second-year Doctor of Audiology students in the Class of 2007 put on their white lab coats for the first time. In addition, Audiology Assistant Professor Rebekah Fallis Cunningham, Ph.D., led the students in the recitation of the Doctor of Audiology oath. Audiology Clinical Preceptor Georgine Ray, Au.D., provided the keynote address and inspired the students to be the best clinician they can become.
"I want to touch upon a theme that I hope will have a lasting impact on each you as you work with your patients. As you put on your white coat tonight, I certainly don't want you to forget the significance of its meaning," said Dr. Ray, who also is a practitioner and owner of Affiliated Audiology Consultants in Phoenix. "But, just as important, never lose sight of the fact that you are a human being underneath that white coat just as there's another human being sitting across from you in need of assistance with his or her hearing or balance problem. If there is one wish I could grant each of you, it would be the talent to be empathetic with each and every patient you meet."
Members of the ASHS Audiology Class of 2007 gather with faculty members and keynote speaker after the white coat ceremony held on the Mesa Campus on Oct. 2. Pictured in the front row (left to right) are: Georgine Ray, Au.D., Tabitha Parent Buck, Au.D., Rebekah Fallis Cunningham, Ph.D., Kara Headington, Allison LaCalle, Kirsten Vesey, and Brooke Jacobs. Back row left to right are: Henry Trahan, Au.D., Amber Arthur, Brad Murphree, Heather Larson, Dena Riso, and Masoud Vazirnezami
Others providing remarks at the ceremony included Audiology Chair Tabitha Parent Buck, Au.D., Mesa Campus Provost Craig M. Phelps, D.O., FAOASM, Mesa Campus Associate Provost O.T. Wendel, Ph.D., ASHS Dean Randy Danielsen, Ph.D., PA-C, and Audiology Assistant Professor Henry Trahan, Au.D.
"Congratulations to the members of the Class of 2007 for reaching this great and historic milestone in their academic and professional careers," noted Provost Phelps. "The competent, knowledgeable, and committed students in the growing ASHS Audiology program provide an excellent example of future practitioners that will help make a difference in America's health."
The donning of a white coat in a health care profession marks a student's entry into the field and is a marked rite of passage highlighting the humanity of providers and patients.
A.T. Still University is a private, accredited non-profit University with campuses in Kirksville, Missouri, and Mesa, Arizona. The Mesa Campus is home to the Arizona School of Health Sciences offering doctoral degrees in Audiology (Au.D.) and Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) along with Master of Science degrees in Medical Informatics, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies and Sports Health Care. The Campus is also home to the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health which offers a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree with a certificate in public health management. The Mesa Campus also serves as a regional medical education site for third- and fourth-year medical students from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. More information about A.T. Still University is available at www.atsu.edu.
