CHCS - Perspectives Winter/Spring 2016

32 • NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY A ugust 21, 2015, marked the commencement of the inaugural class of the Tampa Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.) Program, as students came from as far as California, Nevada, and Minnesota to participate. Commencement is one of several ceremonies the students participated in throughout their NSU academic careers. Providing a blended program offers challenges to building a community from a distance, which is why the O.T.D. program has intentionally incorporated several opportunities for students to develop commu- nity through a series of traditions. The first rite of passage is the White Coat Ceremony students participate in during the fall semester of their first year. Mirtha Whaley, Ph.D., OTR/L, described the significance of the ceremony as an entry into the students’ professional coursework. Accepting the white coat also signifies accepting the responsibility of entering into a community of professionals. It involves more than the acquisition of skills; it is the beginning of a student’s journey to becoming a professional. The second rite of passage is the doctoral pinning. Gustavo Reinoso, Ph.D., OTR/L, describes the signifi- cance of the pinning as a symbol that indicates the Celebrating the Inaugural O.T.D. Alumni BY SHEILA M. LONGPRÉ, M.O.T., OTR/L, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS Occupational Therapy TAMPA Celebrating the Inaugural O.T.D. Alumni From left: Chelsea Bryant, My-Lynn Tran, Ellie Edrissi, Shree Patel, Ashley R. Stedman, Meghan A. Granata, Kristin S. McMillen, Hillary Whitacre Anderson, and Lillian M. Freeman