Whitney Pendergrass, COTA/L: OTP in Academic Support
In this post, we will learn from Whitney Pendergrass, COTA/L. Whitney is a certified occupational therapy assistant whose role is titled, Clinical Education Assistant for The School of Occupational Therapy at Belmont University. Her job is to assist the fieldwork educators in the OTD and MSOT programs with all things fieldwork related. This role also includes creating more fieldwork placement options for when the OTD program increases to a cohort of 60 students because an increase in students means an increased need for fieldwork placement options.
Q & A with Whitney:
Please tell us a little about yourself.
Hi! My name is Whitney Pendergrass and I am a true Nashville native. I now reside, a short drive west of Nashville, on my family's farm where I live with my husband and our two precious little boys. I am a graduate of the amazing OTA program at Nashville State Community College. Since graduation, in 2013, I've spent the majority of my professional career working in pediatrics with some geriatrics sprinkled in here and there. When I'm not working, I love spending as much time as possible with my family! On the weekends you can find me at the baseball field (I'm the super loud first-base coach with the White Sox shirt on) watching my oldest son play. I also enjoy hiking, swimming, gardening and napping!
What motivated you to contribute to this podcast series?
I stumbled upon your podcast/website while doing some research for my new job with Belmont University. I started browsing through past guests and podcast episodes when I noticed there was only one episode highlighting a COTA's uncommon work. I decided I would reach out and request to be featured in an episode so I could share my uncommon work and the amazing new opportunity I have!
Please describe the UncommonOT work that you do and the setting in which you work, the population you serve, and the needs that you address.
My official title is Clinical Education Assistant for The School of Occupational Therapy at Belmont University. Essentially, my job description is to assist the fieldwork educators in the OTD and MSOT programs with all things fieldwork related. This also includes creating more fieldwork placement options for when our OTD program increases to a cohort of 60 students. An increase in students means an increased need for fieldwork placement options. With this increased need for fieldwork sites, one of my main tasks in this position is getting out in the community and creating relationships with local non-profits and other "non-traditional" placements for our students to go during their fieldwork. We are passionate about getting occupational therapy back into the mental and community health settings while also integrating quality services into already established programs.
What inspired you or drew you to this type of OT work?
This is an easy one: My passion for the field of occupational therapy. I can genuinely see the need for and benefit of OT in every single setting and environment out there. There is not a single person, place, or thing that could not benefit from some quality OT services!
How did you get there? Can you describe your path?
I like to believe I got here by being a hardworking, passionate and creative COTA. After graduation I started working at an outpatient pediatric facility where I worked with an awesome OTR named Cindy. During my time at this outpatient clinic I did many in-services for our multidisciplinary team as well as just general education on OT, the importance of our field and all the value a COTA can bring to the OT collaborative team. When my friend, Cindy, accepted a faculty position as the new fieldwork coordinator, for the OTD program at Belmont, she became a part of the team focused on creating this new embedded faculty model. When the team decided to create this position and wrote out the job description, Cindy said she knew the perfect candidate for the job. *Spoiler alert* it was me!!
Please describe a typical day or OT session in your uncommon setting? What OT skills do you utilize?
It is summer time on campus right now, so a typical day is spent researching potential sites, collaborating with other members of the fieldwork team and compiling and organizing paperwork and data from the current fieldwork students (we have MSOT and OTD students out on fieldwork right now). In the fall I will be spending more of my time out of the office and in the community creating and strengthening relationships with potential future fieldwork sites.
Can you talk about some recent highs (successes) and lows (challenges) of your current role?
The most recent high is being offered and accepting this amazing job! I haven't been in this position long enough to encounter many challenges but I'm sure they arise at some point.
How do you continue to learn in order to stay on top of things within your role?
My learning has completely shifted to more of a research and networking approach. I’m not so much learning about treatment interventions right now but more focused on educating myself on local non-profits and needs within our community.
Can you share a little bit about salary and compensation in this setting? How do OT or the services you provide get funded?
I am a staff employee at Belmont so I am paid by the university. My salary is a tab bit lower but still pretty comparable to what I was making out in the clinical world.
Any career advice for our followers and listeners on how to get started on this path?
If you're passionate about educating others on the field of OT then take every opportunity available to speak on the topic. I am always eager to host an in-service or an educational session and explain the benefit of OT. I want others to know who we are, what we can do and why we are truly the most amazing therapy out there. Also, give back to the program you attended and the facilities you worked for. Making yourself available goes a super long way! I go back to the OTA program I graduated from, multiple times a year, to speak and help in any way I can. I also sit on the OTA board of directors at my alma mater.
What’s a common myth or misconception about your job/role you’d like to call out or demystify?
Ohhhhh, Im pretty sure there are very few, if any, other jobs out there like mine! However, I hope that changes after this podcast interview. I would love if every OTD and MSOT program in the county had at least one (but maybe two or three) COTAs on staff!!
How do we find you , follow you, be in touch with you, and promote your unique work?
My email is whitney.pendergrass@belmont.edu
Please list any resources you would like me to include with your Show Notes (courses, articles, assessments, tools, etc.)*
I would like to give a formal shout out to my friend Cindy and list her official title for recognition.
Cindy Hickman OTD, OTR/L, SIPT, CLT, LANA OTD Fieldwork Coordinator for The School Of Occupational Therapy at Belmont University
All the forward-thinkers and amazing programs directors from Belmont as well as Nashville State Community college (where I went to school) so they can all be recognized for their awesomeness!
- Camille Turner, MSOT, OTR/L
MSOT Fieldwork Coordinator at Belmont University
- Allison Koch, EdD, OTD, OTR/L
MSOT Program Director at Belmont University
- Tamara Lemmonds, EdD, MSOT, OTR/L
OTD Program Director, Department Chair at Belmont University
- Piper Sesnan, OTD, OTR
Nashville State Community College OTA Program
https://catalog.nscc.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=2&poid=156&returnto=601
OTA Program Director at Nashville State Community College
- Donna Whitehouse, MHA, OTR
Interim Dean of Healthcare Professions at Nashville State Community College
As always, I welcome any feedback & ideas from all of you or if you are interested in being a guest on future episodes, please do not hesitate to contact Patricia Motus at transitionsot@gmail.com or DM via Instagram @transitionsot
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