WVU School of Medicine Occupational Therapy students receive white coats, begin clinical rotations
The West Virginia University School of Medicine’s Division of Occupational Therapy hosted a white coat ceremony for 32 master’s and doctoral program students on Sunday, March 29, at the Okey Patteson Auditorium in the WVU Health Sciences Center in Morgantown.
Receiving their white coats marks the students’ transition from classroom instruction to hands-on clinical learning, where they will apply the foundational knowledge they received and work in real scenarios with patients in need of their services.
"As the classroom gives way to clinical spaces, the white coat becomes a symbol of our obligation to listen deeply, think critically, and act with integrity," Kayleigh Nolan, PhD, MOT, OTR/L, assistant professor and doctoral capstone coordinator in the Division of Occupational Therapy, said. "It reminds us of our commitment to treating people, not problems. To practice with both head and heart.”
The keynote speaker for the event was Mary Beth Mandich, PT, Ph.D., vice dean for WVU School of Medicine Health Professions. She emphasized the importance of occupational therapy in the interdisciplinary healthcare team.
Meet the students
Olivia Twigg of Great Cacapon, West Virginia, is a student in the Master of Occupational Therapy program. Her first clinical rotation will be at Kingwood Healthcare Center, a skilled nursing facility. She is looking forward to putting the skills she has learned during didactics into practice.
Twigg also works as a therapy tech at the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at J.W. Ruby Memorial. She said that through this experience, she’s been able to see firsthand the resilience of patients recovering from neurological injuries and the powerful impact that OT can have during such a critical stage of recovery. She’s excited to continue that journey in her rotations. After graduation, she hopes to work in either a skilled-nursing or inpatient rehabilitation setting near her hometown.
“OT is more than just helping people become independent,” said Twigg. “It’s about helping people feel comfortable in their own skin while embracing and growing in their abilities at every stage of life, and that is a career I feel truly called to be a part of.”
Cody Hively of Parkersburg, West Virginia, is a student in the Occupational Therapy Doctoral program. He will be completing clinical rotations this summer at Encompass Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital in Morgantown and Therapy Services Outpatient Pediatrics in Morgantown. Hively is eager to apply all the knowledge he has gained so far in the program to treat patients. He hopes to one day start a clinic in his hometown to improve health outcomes in his community.
“The OT program provides opportunities for you to explore your particular interests, whether that be pediatrics, mental health, hand therapy, neurorehabilitation and many more,” said Hively. “My best experience has been the excitement my professors share with my ideas, goals and plans for my academics/career. They genuinely want you to succeed and will go out of their way to ensure you have the best opportunities. I’ve learned that school is a time to explore your strengths from a clinical standpoint. The WVU OT programs provide a nurturing environment to support education from all walks of life.”
To learn more about the WVU Occupational Therapy programs, visit medicine.wvu.edu/ot/ or explore associated career pathways at go.health.wvu.edu/pre-health