Occupational Therapy Spotlight

Meet Alayna McCalley. Alayna is a third-year student in Drake's Occupational Therpay Doctorate (OTD) program and will graduate in 2022! In her last year of the OTD program, Alayna has had the opportunity to complete a doctoral capstone experience at the National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter Park, Colorado. 

Tell us about your capstone experience at National Sports Center for the Disabled. What were your responsibilities and what did a typical day/week look like?

Every day on site I would be an instructor for an adaptive ski lesson, whether that's a stand ski, ski bike, slider, or sit ski. I worked primarily on my capstone project during the weekends.

What is your favorite thing about this Doctoral Capstone?

Getting to meet all my participants, meeting all my wonderful co-instructors, and getting to experience something so unique!

What attracted you to Drake's OTD program?

The location, a new program, and contracts with so many placements outside of Iowa.

Have your career goals changed at all since starting Drake's OTD program? How so?

No, I still would love to be a neuro occupational therapist!

How has Drake prepared you for your future career as an occupational therapy professional?

Providing diverse clinical and capstone experiences.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to future occupational therapy students?

Don't sweat the small stuff and take time for yourself.

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Occupational Therapy Spotlights

Behrends, Carrie (Mental Health Level II Fieldwork)

Bieber, Brittany (Project Renewal - Doctoral Capstone)

Boarman, Robert (VA Central Iowa Health Care - Doctoral Capstone)

Bryan, Jamie (Iowa State Digital Accessibility Lab, Doctoral Capstone)

Crane, Kate (Brain Injury Level II Fieldwork)

Cuddy, Emily (MD Anderson Cancer Center - Doctoral Capstone)

Fisher, Karagan (UnityPoint - Doctoral Capstone)

Flaherty, Shannon (A Horse Connection - Doctoral Capstone)

Gacek, Angelica (UnityPoint Trinity Health, Doctoral Capstone)

Haggerty, Jessica (Optimae Rehabilitation Services, Doctoral Capstone)

Hahn (Mills), Hailey (Mental Health, Behavioral Health Specialists, Inc.)

Hawkins, Emily (Geriatric, Long-Term Care and Skilled Nursing Level II Fieldwork)

Hupfeld, Mary-Grace (Drake University - Doctoral Capstone)

Koneval, Madigan (OSF Healthcare St. Francis Medical Center - Doctoral Capstone)

Mazzei, Bri (Beyond Aquatics - Doctoral Capstone)

McCalley, Alyana (NSCD - Doctoral Capstone)

Metz, Maranda (Pediatric Doctoral Capstone Experience)

Mock, Emily (Pediatric Level II Fieldwork)

Nadolny, Emily (Pediatric Burn Camp Level II Fieldwork)

Nave, Maddy (Mental Health, Forensics and Aging Adults Level II Fieldwork)

Neff, Jessica (Mental Health, Research, SLU OT Transition and Integration Capstone)

Riek, Elizabeth (Program Development, Leadership and Evidence-Based Practice Capstone)

Roe, Mariah (OTR, Millennium Rehabilitation & Consulting Services)

Roe, Mariah (Neurological Level II Fieldwork)

Schimek, Matt (Program Development and Community Practice Capstone)

Speth, Erin (Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Across the Board Therapy)

Steinke, Rylee (MercyOne Des Moines NICU - Doctoral Capstone)

Weetman, Taylor (JHRN Clinic for Performing Artists at the Peabody Institute - Doctoral Capstone)

Widmer, Jackie (SwedishAmerican Hospital NICU - Doctoral Capstone)

Wuebker, Molly (Drake OTD Faculty)