“Midwestern stood out from other programs in that the faculty's experience… gave me confidence that they not only knew their field but also knew how to disseminate the knowledge of their field in an expert manner.”
The following is an interview from when Deborah was a student in the College of Health Sciences at Midwestern University.
Deborah has an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Development (Masters: Teaching and ELL). Her hometown is Anchorage, Alaska.
Tell us about your path towards medicine.
I knew I wanted to become an occupational therapist while caring for my family members who needed medical providers and therapists to aid in their recoveries. After obtaining my teaching degrees, I worked in ILP as a DT, collaborating with various medical providers and therapists to provide early intervention for infants and toddlers. My work with the OTs was an ongoing reminder of what I originally wanted to pursue prior to getting my teaching degrees. So here I am working towards my goals.
What made you choose Midwestern University?
Midwestern stood out from other programs in that the faculty's experience in OT was also paired with an understanding of teaching pedagogy, which gave me confidence that they not only knew their field but also knew how to disseminate the knowledge of their field in an expert manner. Most importantly, during interviews with faculty we shared values of seeing a dynamic approach within the field of OT. The faculty expressed cross-disciplinary understanding that OT is not just facilitating functional motor development; the field of OT includes the need for mental health and social emotional foundations, and is relationship-based and culturally sensitive.
What are you most excited about going forward?
I am looking forward to the journey of integrating myself personally and professionally within the OT program.
