Catherine Gardner graduated with a doctor of occupational therapy from Eastern Kentucky University. She works as a clinical director for Occupational Therapy Consultants, Inc. She completed her degree online and recently shared her thoughts about her EKU Online experience.
How has earning this degree changed or aided your career?
Completing my doctorate provided me with the skills for deeper analysis of the clinical skills being done by my company. Since getting my doctorate, I have advanced to the clinical director position and oversee the clinical services for occupational, physical and speech therapy providers by our company.
What motivated you to get this degree?
I was looking for guidance in conducting research in my area of interest which was transition services for individuals with disabilities.
What was your favorite part or the highlight of your time as an EKU Online student?
The discussion board posts among the students in my cohort provided wonderful professional discussions for growth and hearing other perspectives from experienced clinicians.
How did the EKU Online faculty aid in your success?
They were always available to discuss questions and provide guidance on a schedule that met the needs of students.
What did you find surprising about the program?
I was surprised how each instructor was able to convey the amount of material within each course and appreciated that the 2 courses per semester and the first course was a concentrated block of time before moving on to the next course which was also a concentrated block of time.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to become an EKU Online student?
If you have been out of school for a while, I would recommend brushing up on technology. After not being in a college course for over 30 years, I had a big learning curve with the technology.
Any additional comments?
Faculty are leaders in the field. The research that has been done in my area of interest was one of my reasons for chosing EKU.
Interested in achieving your goals and advancing the OT field?
Earn your OTD from a regionally accredited university that has been an online education leader for over 15 years. Our flexible, online format provides students the ability to complete coursework and assignments according to their schedule.