Just eight months after she graduated from the MGH Institute, Christine Kane, DPT ’25, spoke to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Class of 2028 during their White Coat and Pinning Ceremony this past Saturday, recalling the question she asked herself at her own ceremony three years ago — am I ready? It’s a question many of the students were likely asking themselves before the milestone ceremony as they move into the clinical portion of their education. 

“Being ready is not a feeling,” explained Kane as she recounted the experiences that led her to her current position as a pediatric school PT at the International Academy of Hope in New York. “It’s a decision. Readiness isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about trusting what you already carry within and letting that be enough to take the next step, to ask the right next question. I don’t always feel ready. But I choose to show up anyway.”

How they show up was one of the points made by Noam Segal, DPT ’14, Clinical Specialist, MGH Outpatient Physical Therapy, the recipient of the Outstanding Clinical Educator Award who spoke to the class about professionalism.

“Professionalism in physical therapy isn’t just about wearing a lab coat or mastering anatomy. It’s about how you show up — for your patients, your colleagues, and yourselves,” Segal said. “It’s the quiet strength behind every decision you make, every interaction you have, and every challenge you face.”

The students, their families and friends who attended the ceremony also heard how Segal defined professionalism —respecting every patient’s dignity, collaborating with other health professionals, being accountable and advocating for their patients and the profession.