"I loved the mentorship offered in the O.T.D. program. I felt so comfortable during the interviews, and I could tell that the faculty cared about students as individuals, not just as students."
Name: Laina Runyon
Hometown: Bloomington-Normal, IL
Undergraduate degree: B.S. in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology from Illinois State University, Normal, IL.
Current program(s) of study: Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.)
What inspired you to pursue a healthcare career? A family friend of mine got in a bad accident in 2016, and seeing his recovery was very influential. I started looking into the healthcare field, and I knew I wanted to be an Occupational Therapist around 2017.
How did your background and history factor into your career choice?
My mom is a high school teacher, so education has always been something I value. My parents have always been supportive and have continually stated that all they want is for me to be happy with whatever I choose to do. I am the first person in my family to obtain a doctorate degree, which is an exciting accomplishment.
Why did you decide to attend ³ûÄñÊÓƵ?
I loved the mentorship offered in the O.T.D. program. I felt so comfortable during the interviews, and I could tell that the faculty cared about students as individuals, not just as students. The faculty continually treats us like their future colleagues, and it is apparent they want us to do well and succeed.
What about a ³ûÄñÊÓƵ education do you want to carry forward in your career?
I have learned the importance of working with interprofessional collaboration to provide the best holistic care for people in the community.
