What Our Students Have to Say
Tim Sullivan, MSOT Alumnus
I can still recall the anxiety of returning to school. After graduating with a Business degree and eventually returning to school for my Associate degree in OT, I just wasn’t sure if I could put my life “on hold” and complete graduate school. Things had definitely changed!! I was married and had a son to consider this time. A large part of me knew I could do more for my patients with an OTR degree. Also, I personally wanted to expand my knowledge and credibility.
Belmont University’s Weekend MSOT program was truly the only way I could continue to work so I could provide for my family and complete an OTR degree from a well respected university. The framework of the curriculum and the technological resources ensured a well paced and organized approach to a graduate degree.
All of the coursework was applicable to becoming a successful OTR. The combination of lecture/labs/case studies was helpful in learning the wide variety of subjects. The courses on Critical Thinking, Neuroanatomy, Kinesiology, and Pediatrics were my most challenging. These courses are also what I definitely needed to become a better therapist. I especially enjoyed the coursework which involved developing your own therapy business, assistive technology, the psychological videos and case studies, “hands on” treatment with guest patients, and even the group presentation to the Nashville Homeless Shelter.
Even though our class was large, I looked forward to seeing all of them every third weekend. Since I was fortunate to have the shortest commute to school I even invited them to dinner several times throughout the program to my house. I mention that only because in graduate school you typically are not that close to your classmates. I enjoyed being with them in and out of class. Everyone was disappointed after graduation because we knew we wouldn’t see each other again.
I knew that I had done the right thing in returning to school and choosing Belmont when I sat for the NBCOT exam. My immediate first thought upon completing the exam was “That was a fair test.” I wasn’t nervous about not passing. Belmont had prepared me to succeed.
Subsequently after graduation I worked as an OTR and then returned to my former position as Rehab Manager for a Long Term Care Facility. Other doors have opened for me as well. I guest lecture at a Nashville College and have been asked to speak for other organizations regarding OT and the aged. I also got to use my skills as an OTR on a recent mission trip to Estonia while working with “street” children. My education has enabled me to be more confident at work and ensure excellent care to my patients.
Lindsey E. Hess, Current Student, OTD Class of 2009
I have often heard that the biggest decisions in life are the easiest to make because when you find the right answer, you “just know”. This was the case for me and Belmont. I vividly remember the day I first set foot in the Occupational Therapy Department at Belmont University. It was a chilly October day and I had driven from my college town of Charlottesville, Virginia to see if Belmont was the right place for my graduate level education. As soon as my feet hit the concrete outside of the OT building I exclaimed, “This is it. This is where I’m meant to be!” Among the reasons I chose Belmont is that it offers a clinical doctorate degree, which is a characteristic that sets it apart from many other schools. Another reason I “just knew” that Belmont was right for me was its small size and belief in Christian values. Lastly, I chose Belmont because of its state-of-the-art facility, the Inman Center. This building, coupled with the fact that it is located in Nashville, made me certain that I would receive a top-notch education in an exceptionally enriched environment.Looking back, I now realize why attending Belmont and deciding to become an OT was an easy decision. God had a plan for me to become an OT long before I even knew what college I would attend. In high school, I peer tutored for an elementary school student in a special education classroom and I also taught Special Olympics tennis. From these early experiences, I learned that I had a special place in my heart for people who had to face adversity due to illness or disability. In college, I decided to pursue a teaching career in Special Education, but I quickly found myself dissatisfied and feeling a bit like I hadn’t really tapped into what God wanted for me to do with my life. That was when I found OT. I began doing OT observation hours at an elementary school and at a school for children with autism. Then I completed observation hours in a hand clinic as well as in a nursing home. I discovered that OT is a multifaceted and extremely versatile field – I could work in a school system, nursing home, hospital, outpatient rehabilitation clinic, or even start my own practice. I realized that the possibilities in OT were endless! Most importantly, I discovered that through OT I could alter people’s lives for the better. I would get the privilege of looking past a label of disability or illness and seeing a person. Furthermore, as an OT practitioner I would be able to bring fulfillment to other individuals’ lives. What job could possibly be more satisfying?
Now here I am, nearing the completion of my third semester of OT school at Belmont and I could not be happier with how my life has turned out thus far. Starting in high school and continuing through college, God placed experiences in my life that were tailor-made for the reason of leading me towards a career in occupational therapy. Now five years later, I have found the place in which my life’s purpose will be brought to fruition. At Belmont, I know I am being challenged both spiritually and intellectually by my professors as well as by my peers. I am learning so much about OT and even more about what I want to accomplish with my life. My dream is to be a pediatric OT and maybe even start my own therapy clinic! Although I am uncertain about much of my future in OT, I know God is using Belmont to chisel and mold me into a woman of skill, compassion, and service. I am certain that I will graduate from Belmont fully equipped to honor God by serving those who are in need of an OT – and I hope I honor Him well.
Angela Salvucci, MSOT Alumna
Attending Belmont University to earn a Master of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Belmont offers a weekend program that allowed me to continue working full time as an occupational therapy assistant, while doing a lot of class work online and attending “live” campus classes every third weekend.
The curriculum was presented in a way that “filled-in” and built own my previous knowledge and experience as a COTA/L. The Belmont MSOT 
program covers every aspect of occupational therapy to some degree…critical thinking, professional behaviors, management, pathophysiology, kinesiology, neuroanatomy, physical disabilities, mental disabilities, pediatrics, geriatrics, assistive technologies, and research just to name a few.
The Belmont MSOT program instructors are knowledge, professional and presented the information in a way that was understandable. The staff welcomed questions and were always available via email or by phone if necessary. I feel the instructors wanted each student to succeed.
One of the happiest days of my life was when I found out that I had passed the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy occupational therapist exam. The Belmont MSOT program’s curriculum, including Level I and Level II fieldwork experiences, provided me with the basic knowledge required to pass the exam. Being an occupational therapist means that I continue to learn, often referencing the textbooks required for the MSOT program.
Belmont University’s motto, “From Here, to Anywhere” is so true! I am very proud to say that I am a graduate of Belmont University’s MSOT program. My educational experience at Belmont has given me job security as an occupational therapist and provided future employment opportunities to practice in a variety of settings.
