At a key transition point in their studies, occupational therapy students across all USAHS campuses participate in a meaningful ritual, witnessed by family and friends. The OT pinning ceremony marks the end of the classroom portion of their studies and the beginning of their fieldwork. For Residential MOT and OTD students, this happens in their fourth term, and for Flex, in the seventh term.
A longstanding tradition in OT practice, the pin celebrates the diversity of practice areas, the client-centered nature of our practice and the values of our profession.
“It’s an opportunity for faculty to acknowledge our students’ transition from classroom learning to clinical learning,” says Mary Zadnik, ScD, MEd, OTR/L, director of the entry-level OT programs on Read more
Dr. Hope McCarroll attended Texas Woman’s University Denton campus for her undergraduate and entry-level graduate studies in occupational therapy. She has practiced mostly as a school-based occupational therapist in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. After several years of practice, she pursued her post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy to specialize in school-based occupational therapy practice and specifically research handwriting in public schools. She completed her studies in 2016 and had her research published in Cogent Education in 2017, looking at the effects of handwriting on academic success in writing, reading, and math. She has presented her research and specialty area at various conferences and in-services across the United States. Dr. McCarroll is based out of the Dallas campus of the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences and looks to continue her research as she continues her journey.
