Name: Mia Pearce, OTD/S ’25
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Degrees: BS in Human Development and Family Studies, Certificate in Health and the Humanities, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Leadership: 2023 WU-COTAD Outreach Chair; co-recipient of the Gephardt Institute’s Transform Grant
What are your meaningful occupations?
I find restoration in going to the gym, going for walks outside, hanging out with friends and, recently, sourdough baking! When I’m with others, I really enjoy learning about people’s diverse thoughts and experiences that have shaped them.
What is your definition of occupational therapy (OT)?
OT is a health-care profession that supports individuals and populations to participate in their meaningful daily activities. A person’s meaningful occupations dynamically change as they grow older, experience life challenges, and find themselves in novel situations. Occupations, to me, emphasize the human nature to feel connectedness – connected to self, connected to others, and connected to the environment around us. Our role is to see people for who they are, meet them where they are, and empower them to live life as independently as possible.
Why did you choose the OTD degree?
I decided to switch from MSOT to OTD because of the value I felt the Mentored Scholarship would offer in terms of building professional relationships, improving leadership skills, and applying clinical knowledge. My mom has always told me that your education is your biggest investment in life. After spending so much time and money in school, I decided I should take advantage of every opportunity to be the best future occupational therapy practitioner I could be.
What are your career goals?
I would like to be a lifelong learner who continues to be challenged with ways to expand my expertise and professional network. OT serves vastly different populations and continues to evolve and grow. I would like to experience OT through as many facets and perspectives as I can to truly understand the value of the profession. I hope to have a lasting impact in the OT world and greater community through a leadership role either on the local or state level. Additionally, I aspire to be a mentor throughout my career and especially among individuals from underrepresented groups.
What WashU experience stands out to you?
The most impactful WashU experience has been the Implementing Person-Environment-Occupation-Participation class. It had the best fit – a faculty team with lasting impressions from Dr. Christine Berg. It allowed me to bring together all the components of the curriculum as well as to practice skills that will benefit me as a future leader.
Anything else you would like us to know?
I would like to give special thanks to Dr. Quinn Tyminski for her mentorship and for being a true inspiration. She has always made me feel heard, and appropriately challenged, and she never fails to tell me how it is. I also would not be where I am without Dr. Kathy Kniepmann and Dr. Duana Russell-Thomas for their unwavering support for promoting diversity and emphasizing the role of community in our profession. My last shout-out is to the current COTAD Outreach Chairs, Hannah and Noemi, and Dr. Pat Nellis for bringing to life the PromOTing Healthy Living Workshop Program after we were offered full funding through the Transform Grant. I am so excited to see how the partnership with Northside Youth and Senior Service Center grows and helps shape subsequent OT students’ learning. WashU OT was only one of two OT programs that I initially applied to three years ago, and I would do it all over again!
We welcome inquiries from prospective students, potential collaborators, community partners, alumni and others who want to connect with us. Please complete the form below to begin the conversation.
Schedule an Info Session
We are excited that you are considering applying to WashU Medicine Program in Occupational Therapy. Please join us for a Zoom Information Session for either our entry-level MSOT or OTD degrees or our online post-professional OTD. Current faculty members will discuss the degree program and answer any question you may have. We are offering these sessions on the following days and times. The content is the same for each one, so you only need to sign up for one.
Upcoming ENTRY-LEVEL Degree ZOOM Info sessions:
Schedule an Entry-Level Info Session
Upcoming PP-OTD Degree ZOOM Info session: