Walters State Graduate Turns Early Interest in Occupational Therapy Into a Career Close to Home

For Amanda Milligan Dunn, an interest in occupational therapy started long before college. 

After her great-grandmother suffered hip and wrist fractures, Dunn watched an occupational therapist help with recovery. She was fascinated by the way everyday activities could become part of helping someone regain independence. 

“That experience sparked my interest and ultimately led me to pursue occupational therapy as a career,” Dunn said. 

Dunn enrolled in Walters State’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program in 2017 as a member of its first cohort and graduated in 2019. 

Learning by Doing 

Dunn said the program gave her the clinical foundation and practical skills she needed to begin her career. Fieldwork was especially important. 

“They encouraged us to network, explore different areas of practice, gain experience and build professional connections,” Dunn said. “My fieldwork experiences are especially memorable because I felt the program did a wonderful job of placing me in settings that aligned with my interests.” 

Today, Dunn is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant working in home health, helping patients regain independence and participate in daily activities. 

“I feel that Walters State prepared me not only to be a competent clinician but also to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients throughout our region,” Dunn said. 

Amanda Milligan Dunn

Giving Back 

Dunn’s connection to Walters State did not end at graduation. She now serves the OTA program as an advisory board member and fieldwork educator. 

“I hope I can offer students some of the same encouragement and support that I received,” Dunn said. 

See the Program in Action 

Want to learn more? Walters State’s Occupational Therapy Research Expo is Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 4:30-7 p.m. in the Niswonger Campus foyer in Greeneville. The free event is open to the public and features semester-long research presented by OTA students in a walk-through poster gallery. Occupational therapy practitioners may also earn up to two contact hours of continuing education. 

Interested in a career in occupational therapy? Apply to Walters State and take the first step toward your future. 

Apply To Walters State

Have questions about the Occupational Therapy Assistant program? Contact Courtney Boren, OTA program director, at Courtney.Boren@ws.edu or 423-798-8187.