Hard Work Pays Off

By: Maisie O'Brien

There was everything a kid could want: a carousel, a lego castle, swings, and a movie theater. Walking through the doors at her first volunteer position, Megan Ziembowicz didn’t expect her time at a play center for children with disabilities to be formative, but the joys of working there inspired her to pursue a career in occupational therapy.

In high school, Ziembowicz transitioned from volunteering at the play center to the role of a staff member, hosting birthday parties and other group activities. She attended the University of Michigan and studied movement and kinesiology with minors in Spanish and education. She conducted research in labs focused on physical activity and gross motor skills in autistic children, and worked as an intern at the Special Olympics and an adult transitional services provider.

After graduation, Ziembowicz enrolled directly at Tufts. “The work I’d done in high school and college showed me that I truly love working with children with disabilities because they have so much to offer,” she says. “Unfortunately, they’re often stigmatized and not afforded opportunities to participate in fun, meaningful activities. I love how OTs are able to work with the person, their environment, and the task to make the world more accessible for everyone.”

Ziembowicz was drawn to Tufts because of the Occupational Therapy Department’s rigorous clinical curriculum combined with its commitment to working with the local community. “At Tufts, community engagement is woven into every aspect of our program,” she says.

Ziembowicz particularly loved her pediatric occupational therapy courses with Senior Lecturer Peggy Morris and her physical dysfunction courses with Distinguished Senior Lecturer Janet Brooks. She worked as a research coordinator at the Friedman School of Nutrition, implementing a physical activity curriculum in area high schools. Her fieldwork placements included an early intervention clinic, a pediatric specialty feeding clinic, and an intensive care unit at a level II trauma center.

Her experience at the ICU surprised her. “I never thought I’d end up anywhere near an ICU,” she says. “I was scared to be honest, but Tufts really prepares us with the clinical skills to thrive in very demanding environments. Although I think my passion will always be in pediatrics, I loved my ICU placement and I hope to continue to develop the skills I gained there.”

For her doctoral experience capstone (DEC), a research project OTD students complete with faculty mentorship in their final year of the program, Ziembowicz worked with Morris on a community-based scholarship project to encourage school-based OTs to advocate for themselves, share resources, and bolster their services.

“Megan was responsible for completing follow-up interviews as well as data analysis for the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the project,” says Morris. “She has a great work ethic and has shown self-directed learning characteristics throughout the DEC process.” Morris, Ziembowicz, and a Tufts OTD alum are currently writing a manuscript on this effort for submission to a peer-reviewed publication.

Complementing her doctorate, Ziembowicz completed the Advanced Professional Certification in School-Based Practice consisting of advanced courses in special education law, best practices in evaluation and intervention, and the completion of a self-directed project. “Every job I’ve interviewed for, including for adult acute care roles, has asked me about this certificate,” Ziembowicz says. “I think having a certificate shows you’re going above and beyond in your learning.”

Ziembowicz recently accepted a role at a multidisciplinary pediatric outpatient clinic. She received interviews and offers at nearly every organization she applied to. “My time at Tufts was wonderful,” she says. “I’ve learned so much and I know I have the clinical reasoning skills to be an effective entry-level OT. I want to reassure incoming students that all your hard work will pay off!”

Outside of occupational therapy, Ziembowicz enjoys running marathons and “other crazy races,” and spending time with her two cats.

Image: Megan Ziembowicz in a pediatric occupational therapy lab at Tufts.