FORT WAYNE — Trine University welcomed its fifth Doctor of Physical Therapy class
and its first Master of Physician Assistant Studies class with special ceremonies
at the university’s Health Sciences Education Center in Fort Wayne on Aug. 31.
During the annual White Coat Ceremony, 35 members of the Trine University Doctor of
Physical Therapy Class of 2021 received their white coats, symbolizing their transition
from preclinical to clinical health sciences, from assistant professor Thomas “Gus”
Almonroeder, Ph.D., Ryan Dombkowski, Ph.D., and Jenna Encheff, Ph.D.
Alexandra DeBoer and Breanna Duso, both members of the Trine University Doctor of
Physical Therapy Class of 2018, were guest speakers for the event.
Students who received white coats were: Justin Anthony of Tiffin, Ohio; Jacob Bailey
of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Nicole Bakken of Holland, Ohio; Hannah Blystone of Carmel,
Indiana; Emma Bowman of Corvallis, Oregon; Sarah Boettner of Okemos, Michigan; Torrey
Christopher of Fenton, Michigan; Alexandra Court of Vienna, Virginia; Ashleigh Depew
of Garrett, Indiana; Elizabeth Hart of Louisville, Kentucky; Brittanie Helgeson-Henderson
of Bristol, Indiana; Parker Hirsch of Columbus, Indiana; Jeremy Hoffman of Fort Wayne,
Indiana; Erica Hoot of Churubusco, Indiana; Alexis Hopkins of New Carlisle, Indiana;
Austin House of Huntington, Indiana; Akram Ibrahim of Orland Park, Illinois; Danielle
Kirchner of North Vernon, Indiana; Garritt Kuntz of Shelbyville, Indiana; Colin Lelito
of West Chicago, Illinois; Stacey Malinowski of Dearborn, Michigan; Alexander McManus
of Indianapolis; Courtney McPheters of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Jeremy Messersmith, South
Bend, Indiana; Rachell Noble of Indianapolis; Vanessa Owusu of Bolingbrook, Illinois;
Kinnsey Pass of Lafayette, Indiana; Emily Riggins of Bloomfield, Indiana; Kirstin
Riise of Plymouth, Indiana; Bryson Stevenson of New Castle, Indiana; Briana Tindall
of Batesville, Indiana; Todd Trombley of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Christian Verreault
of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Elena White of Greentown, Indiana; and Janaya Wilder of Decatur,
Indiana.
Later in the day, the 28 members of the university’s first Master of Physician Assistant
Studies class were welcomed by Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine president; John Shannon,
Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs; and Max Baumgartner, Ph.D., dean of the
Rinker-Ross School of Health Sciences, before receiving stethoscopes from the MPAS
faculty.
Trine’s first class of MPAS students, the Class of 2020, includes: Patrick Albrant
of Howell, Michigan; Kiersten Coatney of Holland, Michigan; Rebecca Coker of Edmond,
Oklahoma; Danielle Costello of Granger, Indiana; Erin Griffin of Peachtree City, Georgia;
Logan Handwerk of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Daniel Jennings of Indianapolis; Amanda
Kohl of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; Laura Kraft of Superior, Wisconsin; Janell Lorton
of Bloomington, Minnesota; Katrina Lynn of Noblesville, Indiana; Cole Meyers of Saint
Clair, Michigan; Brad Ophoff of Wyoming, Michigan; Chandni Patel of Fresno, California;
Katie Patterson of Medina, Ohio; Melinda Peiserich of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Aaron Peterson
of Owatonna, Minnesota; Laura Rosekrans of Williamston, Michigan; Savannah Roughton
of Paulding, Ohio; Brian Sautter of Naperville, Illinois; Alexi Seely of Ames, Iowa;
Taylor Sheron of Marion, Indiana; Soniya Sheth of Addison, Illinois; Brett Talley
of Holland, Michigan; Ashlyn Teders of Auburn, Indiana; Connor Thiets of Maplewood,
Minnesota; Steven Wenzel of Plainfield, Illinois; and Ingrid Wood of Madison, Wisconsin.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Trine University is accredited by the Commission
on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street,
Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.
The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Trine University Physician
Assistant Program sponsored by Trine University.
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource
allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet
enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards
or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate
continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation
of the first class (cohort) of students.
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It
is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.
Photos: Top, members of the Trine University Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2021, with
faculty from the DPT program. Middle, members of the Trine University Master of Physician
Assistant Studies Class of 2020, with faculty from the MPAS program. (Photos by Dean
Orewiler)