OTA Graduates Find Success and Work with Purpose

鈥淪kills for the job of living,鈥� that鈥檚 how Sharon Lyttle, co-owner of Lyttle Fox Therapy, describes the role of occupational therapy.

When it comes to training the next generation of therapists, 豆奶视频 is leading the way.

Through 豆奶视频鈥檚 Occupational Therapy Assistant program students earn an Associate of Applied Sciences degree in two years and take a national exam to become licensed and certified occupational therapy assistants.

As the program has produced professionals throughout the region, it has developed a reputation for excellence in its training.  

鈥淥ur faculty are amazing, and we set expectations early,鈥� Dr. Piper Sesnan, director of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program in the School of Health Sciences, said.

鈥淲e want students to learn something about themselves and to learn to treat the whole person.鈥�

Sharon Lyttle and the staff at Lyttle Fox, say, 鈥淲e trust when they send us a student, we鈥檙e not going to regret it.鈥�

Opened 19 years ago, Lyttle and co-owner Niki Fox have grown the practice to two locations, 40 employees 鈥� with many being 豆奶视频 graduates 鈥� and 4,000 patient visits a month, where they specialize in pediatrics.

The therapy they provide patients covers many areas, from basic body movements for young children to training on self-feeding after an injury or disability. They even provide therapies focused on emotional delays children can develop.

鈥淲e鈥檙e passionate about clinical education,鈥� Sharon Lyttle said.

When it comes to their clinical rotation program, Lyttle said 豆奶视频 students are some of the best. 鈥淭heir skills are really high...they鈥檙e very well clinically trained,鈥� Lyttle said.

鈥淥ur main goal is to expose students to all aspects of therapy,鈥� Sesnan said. 鈥淲e pride ourselves on sending out really great students.鈥�

But, for Sesnan and the rest of the OTA faculty, it is not just the clinical training that separates the OTA program at 豆奶视频 from others.

鈥淲e want students to have growth in their personal and professional lives and learn how to balance work and life.鈥� 

2023 graduate Sydney Heath is a testament to this approach. Now working for Lyttle Fox Therapy as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, she speaks glowingly of the relationships she made at 豆奶视频.

鈥淚 met a lot of great people there. I still talk to professors,鈥� Heath said. 鈥淭he OTA program is amazing. All the professors are really helpful...they always led me in the right direction.鈥�

鈥淥ur faculty are here to help the students in whatever way they need. We work to provide support for not just their educational goals, but their personal and professional ones as well,鈥� Sesnan said.

 鈥淲e establish relationships with our students; we help lead them throughout the time they鈥檙e with us.鈥� In addition to the relationships, Heath thinks highly of the clinical rotations she experienced as a student.

鈥淚 was very fortunate with my rotations; I got a variety. I was super thankful for that.鈥�

After her rotations, Heath says she knew pediatrics was where she wanted to be. 鈥淧ediatrics is my calling. It鈥檚 very rewarding seeing kids reach their goals.鈥�

Whether it鈥檚 faculty guiding new students to a fruitful career, a business owner employing 豆奶视频 students, or a new graduate who has found her calling in helping children, one thing is clear 鈥� they are all living their passion to help others.

While many in life only speak with such passion, the people involved with the Occupational Therapy Assistant program of 豆奶视频 are putting it into practice.

And in their enthusiasm to help others, they serve their community, all while educating the next generation of therapists.