A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

Beginning in 2019, Rocky Mountain College welcomed their first group of students into their doctorate level Occupational Therapy Program. The Adult Resource Alliance recently welcomed our second group of students who will have the opportunity to complete their field work while gaining experience with a senior

Alexia Wilson

Hello, my name is Alexia Wilson and I am a student at Rocky Mountain College in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program. I grew up in Eagan, Minnesota and attended the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire for my undergraduate degree in Kinesiology, with minors in psychology and geriatrics. I fell in love with Occupational Therapy because of my grandpa who survived Polio as a child, legally blind and battled prostate cancer before he passed away. He was a true warrior when it came to living an optimistic life, aside from his health battles. His occupational therapist made it possible for him to be able to live at home until the last two years of his life. The OT helped make modifications to his environment and found ways for him to safely transfer out of his electric wheelchair into bed, toilet, shower, etc. Some of my current interests are: geriatrics, acute care, and neurorehabilitation. As a future occupational therapist, I hope to use my encouraging and positive personality to help clients recover, grow, and strengthen their skills needed for everyday living. population. Through this option, each student spends time with Adult Protective Services, Big Sky Senior Services, and the Adult Resource Alliance to gain an understanding of a variety of programs geared to seniors.

Jenni Giannuzzi

Hello, my name is Jenni Giannuzzi. I am a student at Rocky Mountain College in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program. I am originally from Noblesville, IN, and I completed my bachelor of science in Kinesiology and got a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. I have been interested in OT since I was 14. I began shadowing OTs in highschool and I loved how they look at a person as a whole and are client-centered. My main interest is in the NICU and autistic children. I currently nanny 7 children with special needs, two of which are severely autistic. I love being able to make adaptations for these children to make them feel as if they have autonomy in some situations though they need 24/7 care. It is so rewarding to see a smile on their face when they have accomplished a task that they have been working so hard towards. As a future occupational therapist, I hope to use my playful, fun personality to help children feel more able in their life.

Alayna Karas

Hello all! My name is Alayna Karas and I am a student at Rocky Mountain College in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program. I was born in Pheonix, Arizona, moved to Chicago, Illinois for awhile, but Minnesota is where I call home. I mostly grew up in a small rural town called Winsted, Minnesota where I attended my childhood schooling and now own a beautiful 1890s home that has been passed down throughout my in-laws family. My college education includes an Associates of Arts degree in Sociology and Crimincal Justice, a Bachelors of Science degree in Human Resource Management, and I am now completing my Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy. One thing has remained constant with all of these changes; working with people one-on-one is my true passion. I plan to specialize in women’s health, specifically pelvic health, and I dream of opening my own women’s health clinic that offers complementary and integrative health services in Minnesota one day. As the third occupational therapist in my family, I plan to continue growing our beautiful field of therapy by putting my clients needs first and empowering them to do the things that bring them purpose. A quote I will leave you with is one that I hold dear to my heart and I relate it often to peoples independence being one of the most important aspects of their lives, “Plant your own gardens and decorate your soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.”

Justyn Juhl

Hello, my name is Justyn Juhl and I am a student at Rocky Mountain College in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program. I was born and raised in Billings Montana and attended University of Mary on an athletic scholarship, after my first ACL tear, I made the decision to transfer back home and continue my basketball career at Rocky Mountain College on a basketball scholarship where I played for an additional 4 years. I graduated with a double major in bachelor of science in both business management and managerial accounting. I initially fell in love with occupational therapy when I went through two back to back ACL surgeries that hindered my athletic career. I found a passion to help others engage in occupations that they find meaningful in order to positively impact individuals health and well-being.

Idelene Medrano

My name is Idelene Medrano and I am an Occupational Therapy student at Rocky Mountain College. I attended Boise State, where I received a bachelor's degree in psychology (Go Broncos Forever). I was first introduced to occupational therapy when my father survived a stroke and required rehabilitative care. Through that experience I was able to see first-hand how occupational therapy can change an individual's life course. I am so thankful that Occupational Therapy has brought me to Billings where I am surrounded by such great people and great views! My grandparents live in the Flathead Valley where I often visit and feel a true love for all that Montana has to offer. I have enjoyed my time in Billings and look forward to working with everyone at Adult Resource Alliance.

Morgan Nafziger

Hello, my name is Morgan Nafziger and I am a student at Rocky Mountain College in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program. I grew up in Minnesota and did my undergrad at Iowa State University. I graduated with a bachelor’s in kinesiology and health and a minor in health promotion. Before doing my undergrad, I started off my college life pursuing a degree in wildlife care, but I realized that what interested me the most is the human body and how it functions. I began to do some research in different career paths and started to shadow an occupational therapist. I fell in love with anatomy, talking with different people of all ages and abilities, and just making connections with total strangers. I knew I wouldn’t get that reward going into wildlife care. Therefore, I made the switch to occupational therapy and never looked back! Currently, I want to pursue a career in hand therapy and work back in Minnesota where my family lives. But, I have enjoyed my time in Montana exploring all the outdoor activities and am amazed by the welcoming community that this state has. I’m excited to learn more about Adult Resource Alliance and look forward to gaining more experiences through this fieldwork placement.