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Occupational Therapy Spotlight
Featuring students and alumni of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program who exemplify excellence.
Meet Bri Brewster.
Bri is a third-year student in Drake's Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program and will graduate in 2024! In her last year of the OTD program, Bri has had the opportunity to complete a doctoral capstone experience at St. Louis University: Transformative Justice Initiative and Occupational Therapy Transition and Integration Services in St. Louis, Missouri.
Name: Bri Brewster
Hometown: Des Moines, IA
Degree Program: OTD, May 2024
Capstone Organization: St. Louis University: Transformative Justice Initiative and Occupational Therapy Transition and Integration Services
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Tell us about your Doctoral Capstone. What were your responsibilities and what did a typical day look like for you?
I go to the mobile clinic three days a week and work with a transdisciplinary team that includes a physician and community referral coordinator. I complete occupational profiles and the intake process with each client alongside the community referral coordinator. I provide follow-up assessments and interventions as needed. Areas addressed through OT follow-up include health management, sleep, ADL/IADL in-home assessments, functional mobility, community mobility, etc.
My responsibilities include:
- Develop and implement occupational therapy's role in a pilot mobile health clinic that provides services to people with an incarceration history.
- Provide direct services to clients on mobile clinic operation days
- Support the project's sustainability through dissemination, creating a handbook outlining clinic processes and procedures, creating a document library that includes occupational therapy forms for use in the clinic and intervention-related materials
What was your favorite thing about the capstone?
My favorite part of the doctoral capstone experience is the opportunity to apply all that we've learned to create something novel. I also appreciate the opportunity to work with my capstone mentor, who has a lot of experience and expertise to share.
What attracted you to Drake's OTD program?
Drake's OTD program offered many opportunities for community engagement. I am from Des Moines, and the opportunity to collaborate with people and organizations in the community was a highlight of my experience at Drake.
How has Drake helped you prepare for your future career as an occupational therapy professional?
Through community-engaged learning, I had multiple opportunities to work with real clients. This experience throughout my education at Drake helped me develop important skills that will translate into my occupational therapy practice.
What are your career goals? Have they changed at all since you started Drake's OTD program?
When I started Drake's OTD program, I really wanted to work in mental health. My goal of working in mental health has not changed. I love mental health as a practice area. After graduating from Drake's OTD program, I would like to pursue a mental health fellowship to continue developing my skills in this area.
What is one piece of advice you would give to future occupational therapy students?
Be present and enjoy the learning process instead of focusing on the outcome (grades, graduating, etc.) Take the pressure off yourself to "get things right" so you can enjoy the opportunity to explore and figure things out.
Previous OTD Spotlights
2024 spotlights
Bri Brewster - St. Louis University: Transformative Justice Initiative and Occupational Therapy Transition and Integration Services | Doctoral Capstone
Hannah Conlin - Nebraska AgrAbility | Doctoral Capstone
Olivia Freehill - Wheat Ridge Regional Center | Doctoral Capstone
Jenna Gregoire - Eastern Star Masonic Home | Doctoral Capstone
Sarah Hulstein - Drake University Office of Access and Success | Doctoral Capstone
Sydney Rants - Hive Day Program at Bee You Therapy, LLC | Doctoral Capstone
Allison Winker - Sherwood Autism Center | Doctoral Capstone
2023 spotlights
Karissa Olson - ChildServe | Doctoral Capstone
Kevin Ockenfels - Open Doors Organization | Doctoral Capstone
Zola Sloth - Rainbow Tree Therapies, LLC | Doctoral Capstone
Danyelle Sutton - Empowered Homes | Doctoral Capstone
Tiya Tito - Elmhurst College Masters of Occupational Therapy Program | Doctoral Capstone
Cheyenne Voshell - Iowa Department of Human Rights | Doctoral Capstone
Jenna-Lynn Willer - E3 Collective/Swim Empowered | Doctoral Capstone
Caitlin Wright - University of Northern Iowa Student-Athlete Academic Services | Doctoral Capstone
2022 spotlights
Brittany Bieber - Project Renewal | Doctoral Capstone
Robert Boarman - VA Central Iowa Health Care | Doctoral Capstone
Jamie Bryan - Iowa State University Digital Accessibility Lab | Doctoral Capstone
Emily Cuddy - the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center | Doctoral Capstone
Karagan Fisher - UnityPoint North Crossing Clinic | Doctoral Capstone
Shannon Flaherty - A Horse Connection | Doctoral Capstone
Jessica Haggerty - Optimae Rehabilitation Services and Mindspring Mental Health Alliance | Doctoral Capstone
Mary-Grace Hupfeld - Drake University | Doctoral Capstone
Madigan Koneval - OSF Healthcare St. Francis Medical Center Outpatient Rehabilitation | Doctoral Capstone
Bri Mazzei - Beyond Aquatics | Doctoral Capstone
Alyana McCalley - National Sports Center for the Disabled | Doctoral Capstone
Rylee Steinke - MercyOne Des Moines NICU | Doctoral Capstone
Taylor Weetman - JHRN Clinic for Performing Artists at the Peabody Institute | Doctoral Capstone
Jackie Widmer - SwedishAmerican Hospital NICU | Doctoral Capstone
2021 spotlights
Angelica Gacek - UnityPoint Trinity Health | Doctoral Capstone
Hailey Hahn (Mills) - Behavioral Health Specialists, Inc. | Doctoral Capstone
Maranda Metz - Stead Family Children's Hospital | Doctoral Capstone
Jessica Neff - Saint Louis University's (SLU) Occupational Therapy Transition and Integration Services | Doctoral Capstone
2020 spotlights
Carrie Behrends - Utah State Hospital | Mental Health Level II Fieldwork
Emily Hawkins - Millenium Therapy | Geriatric, Long-Term Care and Skilled Nursing Level II Fieldwork
Emily Mock - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Pediatric Level II Fieldwork
Elizabeth Riek - the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center | Doctoral Capstone
Mariah Roe - On With Life | Neurological Level II Fieldwork
Mariah Roe - Millennium Rehabilitation & Consulting Services, Inc | Post-Graduate Career
Matt Schimek - Drake University | Doctoral Capstone
Erin Speth - Across the Board Therapy | Post-Graduate Career
2019 spotlights
Kate Crane - On With Life | Level II Fieldwork
Emily Nadolny - St. Florian Fire and Burn Foundation's Miracle Burn Camp | Level II Fieldwork
Maddy Nave - Utah State Hospital | Level II Fieldwork
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