Physical Therapists in Demand in an Ageing Society－TCU Sponsors White Coat Ceremony for Future Physical Therapists

Today TCU held its seventh White Coat Ceremony. From July, these university juniors will intern at hospitals for six weeks. During the ceremony, faculty members presented measurement rulers and certificates to their students. Due to the drastic change in lifestyles and the popularity of electronic products, people’s health is deteriorating. Thus physical therapists are in demand around the world. This year, 53 students attended the White Coat Ceremony, and 14 of them are international students.

Physical therapy is a professional career which has many specialties. These students have gained the basic knowledge of physical therapy in neurology, pediatrics, cardiovascular, orthopedics, and long-term care. They are ready to apply what they learned to serve their patients. Professor Kuang-Hua Lin, Chairperson of the Department of Physical Therapy, encouraged her students to uphold the Tzu Chi Spirit of “making a promise, being resolute, gentle and caring,” while caring for their patients. Furthermore, she reminded the students to learn with open minds, and ask for advice candidly, wherever they work and whenever they need it.

Taiwan has become an ageing society. President Pen-Jung Wang pointed out that physical therapy professionals have transformed their focus from rehabilitation to illness prevention and health promotion. He inspired these future physical therapists to make the right knowledge available to the general public, and to improve the quality of people’s lives by encouraging the needy to exercise regularly.

The recipient students went up on the stage, and faculty members gave each of them a measurement ruler needed by every physical therapist. Malaysian Deng-Siang Ting led other students to take an oath. Deng-Siang’s relative had a stroke. Thus, he realizes the importance of rehabilitation. Physical therapy is not popular in Malaysia, so he wishes to go back to serve those in need, after completing his undergraduate program.

Physical therapy has many specialties. In addition to working at hospitals, physical therapists can work at schools, assisting school children with delayed development, serve in organizations providing assistive devices, or provide long-term care for the needy. Moreover, they can be athletic therapists, athletic trainers or fitness coaches.

Wen-Hsin Chuang’s father is a Pilates’ instructor. Because of her father’s inspiration, she wants to assist patients to recover their health through exercise and rehabilitation. Wen-Hsin received Pilates’ instruction from her father for a year, and discovered that people can recover from physical injuries by exercising through a set of movements. She further learned that by combining exercise and medical care, exercising through proper movements, and receiving rehabilitation, a patient will get well, without having to go through surgery or depend on medication. Wen-Hsin’s father Chin-Hung Fan attended the ceremony today. He has encountered many patients in his Pilates’ classes, and feels that a person’s health is more important than anything else. As a result, he wishes his daughter will make the best use of her professional knowledge and skills, to help needy people as much as possible.

Master Te Yu and Master Te Hsu led everyone to light the heart lamp, which signifies passing on Great Love. The Masters wished all students would work with other medical professionals with kindness and compassion, to care for their patients and enhance their patients’ well-being.