Kaitlin Warren, Occupational Therapy
A community feel has been important to Kaitlin Warren throughout her time at East Carolina University. “I loved the sense of community I felt when I visited the campus for the first time when deciding where to go for undergrad,” said Warren. “I chose to continue to pursue my education to get a master’s degree at ECU for a few of the same reasons I chose ECU for undergrad: the sense of community, and affordability of the program, and many organizations and opportunities offered within the program that aligned with my goals.”
The Littleton native will graduate with a Master of Science in occupational therapy this week. It will be her second ECU degree after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in public health with a concentration in pre-health professions and a minor in psychology in May 2021.
Warren wasn’t aware of her chosen field when she entered college, but the experience of a family member around her sophomore year helped chart her future course.
“I first heard of occupational therapy when my grandpa had a stroke,” said Warren. “He ended up going to outpatient occupational and physical therapy for a few weeks after he had his stroke, and I remember watching him practice what he was working on in therapy at home. I saw that and loved the idea of being able to help people return to independence and regain control of their lives.”
Warren was active in multiple on- and off-campus organizations at ECU. She feels that her time with the physical and occupational therapy student-run clinic allowed her to see both the management and patient care aspects of her major.
“I started off on the leadership team for the student-run clinic which assists in the day-to-day operations,” said Warren. “After serving on the leadership board, I was also allowed to be one of the students providing patient care as part of my level 1 fieldwork experience.”
Warren’s professors noted her compassion towards both clients and coworkers, explaining how as the leader of the student run clinic she went out of her way to make sure that the experience ran smoothly, and the interventions were as client-centered as possible.
STATISTICS
Name: Kaitlin Warren
Major: Occupational therapy
Classification/Year: Graduate student
Hometown: Littleton
Hobbies/interests: Spending time with friends and family, walking my dog, running, volunteering, and gardening
Clubs and Organizations: Service Committee Chair and Member of the Student Occupational Therapy Association
FAVORITES
Favorite places on campus: Lake Laupus and the Health Sciences Campus Student Center
Favorite class: OCCT 6300 – Therapeutic Use of Human Occupation III
Professors who influenced you the most: Dr. Anne Dickerson & Dr. Heather Panczykowski
MOTIVATIONS
Dream job: Occupational therapist director
Role model: My parents
What advice do you have for other students? Time truly flies, take opportunities to make connections and don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone, that’s where the most growth happens!
Occupational therapy student Kaitlin Warren learns about electrical stimulation and modalities. (Contributed photo)
In addition to her work with the student-run clinic, Warren volunteered with the Autism Society of North Carolina as a direct support professional beginning in 2019. In that role, Warren worked with individuals to achieve goals relating to communication, social skills, daily living skills and vocational skills.
Warren believes that occupational therapists help individuals grow, which correlates to one of her hobbies: gardening.
“I love to grow vegetables and flowers,” she said. “Occupational therapists help individuals engage in desired occupations including leisure activities that you enjoy in your free time. For me, gardening is a desired leisure occupation that I engage in during my free time for relaxation and enjoyment!”
As Warren prepares to begin her career with a goal of working in an acute care hospital setting, developing community will be part of her next step.
“The biggest thing that I will take with me from my time at ECU is always build connections and create a community,” she said. “I know that no matter where I end up, I want to help build a community where individuals feel support and included.”