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Chiropractic white coat ceremony planned for March 18 in Harrodsburg

The Campbellsville University School of Chiropractic in Harrodsburg, Ky.

By Gerard Flanagan, news writer/photographer/social media, Office of University Communications

HARRODSBURG, Ky.—Campbellsville University’s School of Chiropractic will conduct its first White Coat Ceremony at the Conover Education Center, 974 University Drive, Harrodsburg, at 2 p.m., Friday, March 18.

The White Coat ceremony will mark the official entry of students into the School of Chiropractic.

“The ceremony signifies the start of a student’s journey to become a Doctor of Chiropractic,” Dr. Trevor Foshang, dean of chiropractic education, said. “Chiropractic and medical schools across the United States commemorate students’ entry into the health care professions by presenting them with their first white coat—a short version of the long coat typically worn after graduation.”

Dr. Trevor Foshang

Although the ceremony itself is a relatively recent tradition, dating back to the early 1990s, the symbolism of white coats in healthcare dates back a century. The coat was traditionally worn by scientists to protect their clothing while conducting experiments and research.

As the professions of health care adopted more evidence scientific findings, doctors began to wear white lab coats—both for a practical purpose of keeping their clothes clean and as a symbol of adopting a more scientific and evidence-based approach to patient care.

After receiving their white coat, students will then recite an oath of commitment.

“The Clinical White Coat Ceremony is a proud tradition throughout healthcare,” Dr. Dennis Short, assistant vice president for chiropractic and dean of chiropractic operations, said. “It represents the student’s metamorphosis into a doctor.

“Traditionally the ceremony is performed closer to the last year of the program, before students enter the clinical setting, but we do it the first semester to imprint on the students the seriousness of becoming a responsible doctor.”

Dr. Dennis Short

More than 100 professional Kentucky-based chiropractors are expected to attend the ceremony.

“I have had the privilege to get to know each of these students, and I am amazed by their personal qualities and excited to help them blossom into successful chiropractors,” Short said. “It is bound to be a day to remember.”

The state-of-the-art, 45,000-square foot facility opened to students in January. The chiropractic center is the first in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the only one within a 300-mile radius. The first cohort of students will be on track to graduate in 2025.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that has enrolled up to 12,000 students yearly. The university offers over 100 programs of study including doctoral, masters, bachelors, associate and certification programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.