"As a practitioner, I understand the importance of lifelong learning that was established in the OTD program."
The transition from student to practitioner can be challenging. Luckily Ellen Joerger '17, '20 OTD, OTR/L, had at her fingertips the expertise and mentorship that the St. Ambrose OTD program faculty provides. The experiential knowledge Joerger received while at SAU acted as the ultimate guide to help discover her professional identity.
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Education Never Ends
In 2017, with a completed bachelor's degree in psychology from St. Ambrose with minors in biology, ethics, and occupational justice, Joerger was not quite done with her pursuit of higher learning. She knew she wanted a future in occupational therapy. "I was able to complete my undergraduate degree one year earlier than expected, accelerating my entrance into the OTD program. As a practitioner, I understand the importance of lifelong learning that was established in the OTD program." Joerger currently works as an Occupational Therapist for Spring Lake Park Schools in Minneapolis, Minn.
Doctoral Capstone
Within the OTD program, students are provided the opportunity to unearth their career interests through a Doctoral Capstone project. "With my interest in family-centered interventions for the early childhood population, I researched Early Intervention Providers' Perspectives of Family Guided Routines Based Intervention." Joerger had the opportunity to share her findings with the Iowa Department of Education at the Iowa Occupational Therapy Association Conference in 2019 and the American Occupational Therapy Conference in 2021.
Why SAU?
What makes us stand out among the rest? The answer is simple: personalized learning opportunities. "At SAU, the faculty get to know students, creating personalized learning opportunities. The faculty know your strengths and needs and can challenge you to grow to your potential."
Words of Advice
Joerger hopes to mentor prospective OTD students through fieldwork opportunities, but in the meantime, she offers this advice to prospective students: "Appreciate the depth of knowledge within the OTD faculty, and take advantage of opportunities to form connections, learn, grow, and be challenged by them."
Occupational Therapy at SAU
Where you receive your doctorate-level training in occupational therapy is important. At St. Ambrose University, we've trained hundreds of OTs since our program began in 1989, and year after year, our program reported a 100% pass rate on the national licensing exam.
