Dunrey LaRose, OTS, presenting research posterDunrey LaRose, a second-year student in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program in the School of Health Professions, is the first UAB OT student to receive a scholarship from the American Occupational Therapy Foundation.

She is one of only two students in the United States awarded the Martha Kirkland Pi Theta Epsilon Endowed Scholarship. The award is given annually to OT students that demonstrate leadership potential and aspire to roles in education, practice or research.

“I love the field of neuroscience and would like to focus my career on making a difference for people with brain injuries and neurological disorders,” said LaRose who is currently doing field work at the Orlando Regional Medical Center’s BIRC (Brain Injury Rehab Clinic). “As a graduate student money is always tight, but with fieldwork in Orlando I literally had to pack up my whole house and move everything, so I’m very appreciative of the scholarship award from AOTF.”

LaRose’s second Level II clinical rotation is also in Orlando at the ORMC. She will work in the outpatient Neuro / Multiple Sclerosis clinic this Fall 2016 prior to graduating in December 2016.

“I feel very fortunate to have received these fieldwork placements because Orlando Health is such a high caliber facility with excellent therapists,” said LaRose. “It’s hard to express how much guidance, support and encouragement I have received from my professors and how much it has meant to me. UAB OT has been an amazing experience – although very challenging at times – and I am very thankful for our professors and everything I have learned from them over the past 2 years.”