June 21, 2025

Wheeling University Physical Therapy Program to hold Capstone Research Presentations and White Coat Ceremony

WHEELING, W.Va., June 21 – Wheeling University’s Physical Therapy students will present their doctoral capstone research projects and receive their white coats during two events set for Friday, June 27.  

Students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program will present the results of their original research from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Acker Science Center Hawk Auditorium. Following the presentations, a White Coat Ceremony will be held 4 p.m. in Troy Theater. The White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage that emphasizes the importance of compassionate patient care as the students prepare for their final clinical education rotations.  

The research presentations are a culmination of two years of study on a specific area of interest. The DPT students work with a faculty member on research projects that overlap both the student’s and faculty’s interests.  With seven faculty members, each having their own areas of specialization, students have a wide range of opportunities from which to choose a research topic. Those areas of expertise include pediatrics, neuroscience, geriatrics, cardiovascular health, rehabilitation, orthopedics, sports, interprofessional education, pharmacology, motivation, teaching and learning, athletic performance, adaptive sports, mental health, professional engagement, and service learning. 

“Participation in research is a key component of the Wheeling University DPT program, because our profession seeks evidence that therapeutic interventions have been proven and appropriate for patients,” said Dr. Alison Kreger, director of the DPT Program and clinical associate professor of Physical Therapy. “With increased emphasis on evidence-based practice, one of our priorities is to provide students the chance to work closely with a faculty mentor on research projects. The research the students produce can influence treatment plans and protocols for the patients they treat.”

Kreger added, “Presentation of their scholarly work before their peers and the public is another key part of the process. In addition to their on-campus presentations, our physical therapy students are given the opportunity to present their doctoral research projects at state, national and international conferences, as well as publish their results in professional journals.” 

Thirteen students will present eight different projects to those attending. 

Dr. Bryan Raudenbush, professor of Physical Therapy, said, “The capstone projects may take the form of experiments, reviews of current literature, case studies of patients, descriptive analyses, or the evaluation of various treatment options. At Wheeling University, we are educating students to be life-long learners, so they need the ability to be intelligent evaluators of research data. A physical therapist who knows how to determine if a research study is credible and of high quality will be a better therapist for their patients. We begin this process with the students the first week they arrive on campus.”  

Following the research presentations, DPT students will participate in a White Coat Ceremony, where they will recite the Physical Therapist’s Oath and receive their white coat that signifies their status as healthcare professionals. “The White Coat Ceremony is relevant in emphasizing the importance of the human connection in healthcare. Throughout their years of education, the students have been taught that empathy and respect are critical parts of optimal patient care,” Kreger added.  

Dr. Caterina (Carrie) Abraham, PT, DPT, MPH, will give the keynote address during the ceremony.  Abraham is an Associate Professor in the Exercise Physiology Department at West Liberty University and works as a PT independent contractor at a local private practice clinic.  She was previously a Clinical Associate Professor of Physical Therapy at Wheeling University.