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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.
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