I’m an occupational therapist in the Wake County Public School System, serving elementary and middle school students. I’m also an assistant instructor in the Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program, teaching alongside our wonderful Capstone Coordinator Cambey Mikush, OTD, OTR/L.
Since graduation, I’ve gained outpatient, community-based OT experience, which was both challenging and exciting. A lesson from the Duke OTD program that resonates in my current work is to continue to look at the whole person and the nuance of their occupational performance that adds meaning to their daily life.
I’m also in the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Scholarship of Teaching and Learning mentorship program. The year-long program will give me further insight into occupational therapy education. It includes completing a project based on a topic of my choosing. Mine is focused on creating a series of training and information modules designed to help fieldwork educators feel more equipped to embrace the educator aspect of their vital role through more detailed information about occupational therapy education.
This program has allowed me to connect with OT educators nationwide and receive mentorship related to my topic of interest.