Health and Human Services News

Moving from classroom to clinicals

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This summer, Missouri State University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program honored its Class of 2027 with the White Coat Ceremony.  

This milestone marks the transition from classroom learning to clinical experience for 40 second-year students. 

The event honored clinical readiness and brought students, their families, faculty and staff together for a meaningful celebration. 

New ways to connect 

This year’s ceremony included a new way for families to participate.  

“We offered a Facebook live stream, which allowed loved ones from far away to join us,” said Dr. Marcia Himes, physical therapy program director. “One of our students has family in Nigeria and they were able to celebrate with her in real time.” 

Another new addition was a celebratory meal after the ceremony.  

“This sense of connection and togetherness made this event especially memorable,” Himes said. “For students and their loved ones, these moments added warmth and significance to an important professional milestone.” 

A symbol of responsibility 

Himes encouraged students to reflect on what it means to wear the white coat. 

“It’s a symbol of your promise to uphold the profession’s values and the trust patients will place in you,” she said.  

She urged students to wear their coats with pride, humility and purpose.  

“Let it remind you each day of who you are becoming and why you chose this path in the first place,” she added. 

She reminded students that compassionate care is not just about clinical skills. It is also about showing up with intention and kindness – bringing thought, emotion and nurturing touch to every patient interaction. 

From sacrifice to celebration 

For many students, Himes’ words struck a profound chord as they reflected on their journey. 

“It felt surreal; a reminder that I’m just five semesters away from my dream. All the hard work and long hours were worth it,” said Bryce Mueller, DPT Class of 2027 student. “I thought of how proud my mom would be. Unfortunately, she passed away during my junior year of high school, but she was the reason I chose a health care career.” 

According to Dayne Koch, DPT Class of 2027 student, receiving his white coat was incredibly significant and he looks forward to seeing his growth in each setting, from the beginning of the rotation to its completion.  

“The journey was undeniably challenging. That’s why I try to pause and truly appreciate each step forward and this was a big one,” he said. 

Learn more about Doctor of Physical Therapy

A nod to excellence

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Passionate faculty and staff are at the heart of McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS), making an impact every day through their dedication and service.  

On April 24, the college came together to celebrate these exceptional individuals at its 2nd Annual Awards Banquet. 

Their contributions go beyond personal achievement — they enrich the learning environment and strengthen support systems that define the MCHHS community. Each honoree embodies the college’s core values, serving as an inspiring example for others to follow.  

“The banquet was such a fun way to connect with colleagues and recognize the hard work happening across our college,” said Dr. Sarah Murray, assistant professor and program director of nutrition and dietetics.  

List of awards 

 Foundation Recipients Award 

Office Orchestrator Award

This award recognizes a staff member who goes above and beyond to create a welcoming, supportive college environment. 

Community Impact Award

This award recognizes a faculty or staff member for impactful community engagement that reflects the public affairs mission. 

Outstanding Academic Advisor 

This award recognizes a staff member for excellence in advising. 

Outstanding Faculty Advisor 

This award recognizes a faculty member for excellence in advising. 

Bearwise Education Excellence Award 

This award recognizes a faculty member for innovative, inclusive teaching and outstanding mentorship that inspires student engagement and learning. 

Outstanding Service Award 

This award recognizes faculty or staff for exceptional service that goes beyond expectations and positively impacts the workplace. 

  • MCHHS information technology department 

Teamwork Trailblazers Award 

This award recognizes a group that demonstrates exceptional collaboration, teamwork, idea-sharing and commitment to a common goal. 

Dean’s Awards 

  • Dean’s Recognition for Service: Dr. Sarah Murray, assistant professor and program director of nutrition and dietetics 
  • Outstanding Service to MCHHS: Dr. Letitia White Minnis, MCHHS associate dean 
  • Outstanding Student Engagement: Nicole Gorley, senior instructor and lab coordinator, biomedical sciences 
  • Outstanding Support to MCHHS: Teri Trickey, director of catering, Chartwells 
  • Outstanding Community Partnership: Burrell Behavioral Health 

Roy D. Blunt Life Science Professorship 

This endowed award, established through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, supports faculty in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines. It recognizes excellence in teaching, research and scholarship advancing the life sciences. 

  • Dr. Amy Hulme, associate professor, biomedical sciences   

Research Fellow 

This new appointment provides support and mentorship to new faculty, centered on the development of a scholarly agenda. 

“I was so surprised and honored to receive the Dean’s Recognition for Service, especially since I helped plan the event and thought I knew the program inside out!” Murray said. “Serving as the Dean’s Fellow for the past two years has been an incredible opportunity to learn about leadership and the administrative side of our college.” 

For White Minnis, receiving the Outstanding Service to MCHHS Award fills her with both gratitude and humility.  

“It affirms my efforts to support others and contribute to our college community. I’ve had the good fortune of working with people who inspire me to serve with purpose and carry that commitment forward with the same dedication that brought me here.” 

Retirements

Besides recognizing outstanding contributions from faculty and staff, the banquet also offered a heartfelt moment to honor those whose long-standing dedication helped advance the college. This year’s retirees honored for their dedication and years of service included: 

Explore MCHHS

Shining a spotlight on student research

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Innovation, discovery and a spirit of exploration were on full display at this year’s McQueary College of Health and Human Services’ (MCHHS) 29th Annual Student Research Symposium.  

The event took place on April 24 in the Plaster Student Union. It featured 53 abstracts with contributions from 147 student researchers across undergraduate and graduate programs. 

Participants represented a wide range of disciplines, including athletic training, biomedical sciences, dietetics and nutrition, exercise science, physical therapy, psychology and speech-language pathology. 

“Our Student Research Symposium is a long-standing tradition that highlights our commitment to academic excellence,” said Dr. Letitia White Minnis, MCHHS associate dean. “The symposium provides students with valuable opportunities to share their research findings, engage with faculty mentors and other community members and contribute to knowledge that advances their field of study.” 

The research projects presented explored current issues across the health and human services spectrum. They included injury prevention, women’s health and performance, nutrition education, clinical innovation and the application of emerging technologies in health care. 

The symposium also recognized the dedication of faculty mentors, whose encouragement and insights help students turn their ideas into impactful research.  A special recognition goes to the MCHHS Student Research Symposium Committee for organizing and sustaining this important academic tradition. 

Learn more about MCHHS

Stepping into clinical care with compassion

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April 29 was a momentous occasion for 11 students in Missouri State University’s School of Nursing. 

They participated in the school’s White Coat Ceremony, an event that marks the transition from classroom learning to hands-on clinical practice. The ceremony represents more than wearing a uniform. It symbolizes the importance of compassionate patient care at the very start of clinicals.  

“This is a significant milestone in the journey of our future Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP),” said Dr. Melissa Penkalski, graduate program director and associate professor in the School of Nursing. “We’re celebrating the transformation to the practice of healing and compassionate care to make a positive impact on patients.” 

Embracing the oath of care 

The ceremony opened with a welcome by Penkalski, followed by a moving moment as the students recited an oath to compassionate patient care and donned the iconic white coat, which signifies their status as health care professionals. 

“Let your knowledge guide you but let empathy lead you,” said Dr. Lori Taula, clinical assistant professor. “Today you wear the coat — not just for yourself, but for those who will place their trust in you.” 

Dr. Ronda Entlicher-Stewart, FNP program coordinator and clinical assistant professor, gave the keynote speech, emphasizing the importance of humanism. 

“In the ever-changing health care arena, with increased focus on the use of technology, we cannot overemphasize the importance of incorporating humanism into daily clinical practice,” said Entlicher-Stewart. “This ceremony provided the platform to engage students at the start of clinical and recognize connection and compassion as integral components of the delivery of health care.” 

She notes the students were proactive in coming to the faculty and the Family Nurse Practitioner Student Association group to incorporate a White Coat Ceremony. The Arnold P. Gold Foundation gave resources to assist with the event and provide the pins. 

A personal reflection from future nurses 

After the students received their pins in front of family and friends, the ceremony concluded with a closing speech by Sarah Page, a FNP student from the Class of 2027.   

“I believe there’s great value in a White Coat Ceremony,” she said. “For us students, it not only signifies a time for celebration in the work we’ve done and the milestones we’ve reached but it also signifies the importance of the roles we’re preparing for.” 

She also believes such a ceremony allows students to take a step back and remember why they chose to become nurse practitioners and gives light to those patients who have touched their hearts. 

A tradition rooted in humanism 

The original White Coat Ceremony began in 1993 at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons by Dr. Arnold P. Gold, who was a professor and pediatric neurologist. A passionate advocate for humanistic health care, he believed the oath taken by new physicians at the end of medical school came too late. 

Through the nonprofit organization he and his wife, Dr. Sandra Gold, started, the Arnold P. Gold Foundation has expanded the White Coat Ceremony around the globe. Today, nearly every medical school in the United States, hundreds of nursing schools and many other health profession schools around the globe participate in this tradition of humanistic care. 

“This ceremony is so important because it requires each student to publicly commit their intention to care for every patient with compassion,” said Dr. Kathleen Reeves, president and CEO of the Gold Foundation.  

“The White Coat Ceremony also shows Missouri State’s School of Nursing’s commitment to humanism for patients, families, health care workers, faculty, the community and their students. Humanism is truly essential to health for all of us; it’s so important that we must start every student’s journey with a personal commitment to humanism.” 

The Gold Foundation champions the human connection in health care. The foundation engages schools and their students, health systems, companies and individual clinicians in the joy and meaning of humanistic health care, so patients and their families can be partners in collaborative, compassionate and scientifically excellent care.

The White Coat recipients 

Class of 2026

Karly Soden 

Class of 2027 

Angela Beck
Heather Day
Lucy George
Amanda Hayward
Sarah Page
Liz Reida
Roopa Ramaswamy
Skylar Schafer
Elizabeth Steward
Ellie Villanueva 

Explore the School of Nursing