It is hard to believe that I’m just a few days away from graduation as I write this. Three years ago, I was packing up my life and preparing to move to Pittsburgh to pursue my graduate degree in occupational therapy. Reflecting on everything that’s happened since then, I feel immensely grateful that I chose Pitt’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy program.
When I was deciding where to attend graduate school, I knew I would be starting over in a new place—but what I didn’t anticipate was that Pittsburgh would truly become my home. Even before I officially decided to attend, the faculty and students in the Department of Occupational Therapy welcomed me with open arms. I vividly remember visiting Dr. Joanne Baird’s Activity/Context Theory and Practice class and thinking, “This is where I belong.” A year later, I found myself sitting in that very classroom as a student. No other program gave me the same sense of warmth and excitement about joining the OT profession, and I can still say with confidence that I made the right choice.
During my time as a Pitt OTD student, I’ve grown immensely—both professionally and personally. I’m proud of all that I’ve accomplished, especially how I’ve been able to apply what I’ve learned in my final semester. My doctoral capstone and experiential preceptorship with Life’sWork of Western PA have been incredibly rewarding. I was particularly excited to share the culmination of my peer network’s work at the Pitt OT Spring Colloquium and to disseminate my clinical practice guidelines to the broader community of professionals in Pittsburgh. I’m so thankful for the mentorship I’ve received from occupational therapist Matthew Bittner and Pitt OT alumna Rebekah Funk (OTD ’23). I’ve learned something new every day from the staff—and most importantly, the clients—at Life’sWork.
I’m also especially proud to have presented recently at the American Occupational Therapy Association Inspire conference in Philadelphia alongside my peer Lily Hoffman (OTD ’25) and Dr. Angela Caldwell. Our poster presentation was titled, “Associations Between Feeding Skills and Mealtime Routines of Children with Down Syndrome.” Working under Dr. Caldwell’s leadership as a research assistant in the Pediatric Health Promotion Laboratory since my first semester has been a privilege. Presenting our research and connecting with so many other OT practitioners and students was an incredible experience!
Looking ahead to life after graduation, I’m definitely a little nervous, but mostly excited for what’s going to come. Pitt’s OTD program has thoroughly prepared me for whatever lies ahead, and I truly believe I wouldn’t be as ready to enter the OT profession without the opportunities I’ve had over the past three years. My Level II Fieldwork experiences at The Children’s Institute and the UPMC Mercy Brain Injury Rehab Unit taught me so much and helped solidify my passion for pediatrics and neurorehabilitation. (Shoutout to my professors in Neurobehavioral Science and Neurorehabilitation Theory and Practice for helping me discover that interest!) Both of my fieldwork educators—who are also Pitt OT alums—empowered me to trust my clinical judgment and embrace my passion for occupational therapy. I’m deeply grateful for those experiences which I know were made possible through the strength of the Pitt OT network.
In closing, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the entire Pitt OT community. I’ll always be grateful for the connections I’ve made and the chance to learn from some of the best in the profession. I know I’ll be a lifelong learner, and the foundation I’ve built here will continue to shape me throughout my career. I’m excited to maintain my Pitt OT connections and to keep building more as I grow in the field. I leave this program proud to be a Pitt OTD alum and more inspired than ever to officially join the profession. I heart Pitt OT—always!
