Combining Science, Compassion, and Creativity
Nestled in the mist-covered mountains of Mon State in Myanmar is the village of Naunggalar. Maryanna Mendenhall, OTD ‘24, spent two years in this lush, remote landscape teaching English to middle school students as part of her time in the Peace Corps.
"Teaching in Myanmar was such a rewarding experience," she says. "Each day I was presented with cultural, linguistic, and environmental challenges. Despite this, I found acceptance in the community and among my students who embraced me with open arms and open hearts."
As a second year occupational therapy doctoral student at Tufts, Mendendall is applying her creativity and passion for service to the field of occupational therapy. “My experience in the Peace Corps affirmed my passion for OT,” she says. “In the US, we have a long way to go in terms of disability rights and access, but in Myanmar children with learning or developmental disabilities are not able to attend school and are often isolated from the rest of society. Seeing this expanded my interest in working internationally and serving pediatric and refugee populations.”
Mendenhall was introduced to the field of OT in high school. A family friend who was working as a pediatric occupational therapist explained her role in supporting children and their families, and Mendenhall immediately saw herself doing similar work. “I love medicine, psychology, and helping people to succeed,” she says. “It felt like the perfect fit.”
She studied psychology at Washington State University, while working as an outdoor excursions facilitator and volunteering as a hospice aide. After college, she worked as a substitute teacher and a physical therapy aide at an outpatient sports and orthopedic facility before joining the Peace Corps and applying to the Tufts Occupational Therapy Program.
Mendenhall has enjoyed her Tufts classes as well as the supportive, close-knit atmosphere of the department. She has particularly valued the support of Lecturer Mary Barnes, who specializes in group theory and practice, and her advisor, Senior Lecturer Janet Brooks, who specializes in physical dysfunction.
“In one of our Tufts courses, we were asked to come up with an elevator pitch to describe the field of OT,” she says. “I described it as ‘a combination of science, compassion, and creativity.’ It’s being able to help someone get through a really difficult time in their life or live their life better. You can have such a big impact as an OT and I find that to be so rewarding.”
She completed a fieldwork placement at a senior community center where she co-led a weekly brain games group, and is currently completing a placement at a cardiovascular care unit at a local hospital. This summer, she will begin a fieldwork placement in a pediatric unit in a medical center, and next fall she will begin a placement at an immigration and refugee resettlement program. She will also be developing a trauma-informed, mindfulness-based curriculum for a primary school in Kenya as part of her doctoral capstone project.
“Through my Tufts coursework, fieldwork placements, and research projects, I’ve really grasped the theory, the values, and the ‘why’ behind occupational therapy practices,” Mendenhall reflects. “The values of OT align with my values, and I’m so excited to be able to work in this field for the rest of my life.”