Student Spotlight: Celine Dammond, OTD/S '16

Celine Dammond, OTD/S '16, Anchorage, AK

What advantages does WUOT offer you that other programs don’t offer?
WUOT offers me the opportunity to learn from people who are changing OT. Every time I open the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, our teachers are listed as authors. They are leaders in every respect and offer us opportunities, guidance and knowledge that allow us to be the best clinicians and future leaders in the field that we can be.

Why did you choose WUOT?
I chose WUOT because they were warm and welcoming during the tour. My first impression was of a program that encouraged learning, and more importantly, new ideas. I believe that education should foster a culture of support for many perspectives and WUOT strives to provide this for us.

Why did you choose the degree program you did? (MSOT, OTD, etc)
I chose the OTD (clinical doctorate) program because I felt that it would serve me in the future to bring skills and knowledge about a wide range of information, particularly the research process, to create changes for clients, communities and most importantly, policies.

What can you say about the quality of education you are receiving?
We learn about such a broad range of topics and I really enjoy being a part of the medical school and having guest lecturers from a variety of fields to complement the views that we receive from our occupational therapy teachers. One of my favorite parts is that many of our professors are working simultaneously and bring in case examples to give greater depth to our education.

What is the learning atmosphere like? (people, resources provided, attitudes of faculty and staff, approach to teaching, quality of mentorship relationships, etc.)
People are supportive, encouraging and willing to share their ideas and knowledge. We do a lot of work in groups and are always respectful of differing views and opinions.

What do you like best about attending WUOT?
I love that we are part of the medical community and have the opportunity to change the way healthcare professionals view our role in the system!

What do you like best about your classmates?
All of my classmates are caring, compassionate people who bring different and valuable perspectives to our discussions – I learn so much from them and their experiences in and out of class during our discussions.

How would you describe the faculty? What do you like best about the faculty?
The best part of the faculty is their willingness to meet and share knowledge – they want us to gain as much as we possibly can during our time here and do their best to offer those opportunities and experiences!

What about the school do you most want prospective students to know?
I want them to know that the WUOT program has provided me with a lot of exciting opportunities – from in-class time to being able to go to Guatemala for the annual service learning trip – that have made me believe that I’ve chosen the right place to develop my skills and attain my goals.

What do you think of living in St. Louis?
I really enjoy living in St. Louis and have made an effort to meet people outside of the Program. The city has so much to offer and taking those initial efforts to explore your interests and enjoy the music, food and exciting cultural events has been vital to my success in school.

What do you plan to do after graduation?
I plan to move to the Western U.S. (I will probably not take the Oregon Trail!) and find a job.

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