The Doctor of Occupational Therapy program honored the graduating inaugural class of 2025 on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, with two sessions of Doctoral Capstone Poster Presentations followed by the OT Graduation Celebration and Award Ceremony. The GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences Graduation Ceremony took place on Saturday, May 17, 2025, and Commencement on the National Mall featuring student speaker, Natalia Anzaldúa Ayala, took place on Sunday, May 18, 2025. Watch the full speech by Natalia Anzaldúa on Vimeo.
Barbara Lee Bass, MD, FACS, the Dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vice President for Health Affairs, and Walter A. Bloedorn Chair of Administrative Medicine, applauded the cohort for being bold pioneers and making history by helping to shape the program's identity as the first cohort. “This cohort has been recognized for bringing energy, advocacy, and critical thought to spaces where occupational therapy has been historically underrepresented and applied,” said Dean Bass.
“This cohort has been recognized for bringing energy, advocacy, and critical thought to spaces where occupational therapy has been historically underrepresented and applied.”
“As occupational therapists, you don't just support function, you defend dignity. You don't just promote independence, you advocate for inclusion in a world that too often designs systems for the majority and overlooks the margins. You are uniquely trained to see what others miss. You see the barriers woven into every day life–the physical barriers, social barriers, systemic barriers–and you work to tear them down. This is occupational justice… [and] the world needs you, all of you, now more than ever,” said Ellen Costello, PT, PhD, department chair and professor.
Program director and professor, Roger Ideishi, JD, OT/L, FAOTA, expressed gratitude for support of the unique design of the program. "Thank you to the faculty and staff for their tireless efforts in assessing, re-assessing, changing, and adapting our methods and approaches to fulfill this aspiration. Thank you to the students who supported the faculty as we cut our own path through muddy waters, weeds, and trees, to get to the other side and find firm ground," said Ideishi.
Assistant professor, Sarah Doerrer, PhD, OTR/L, CHT, CLT, concluded the ceremony with individual remarks for each of the 26 entry-level OTD graduates–moving many to tears and laughter–and emphasized,
“This is not a goodbye. It's a beginning of a lifelong connection.”
The recipients of the national awards and GW OT program graduation awards include:
Alpha Eta Inductees
- The National Honor Society for Health Science Professionals aims to promote and recognize students who demonstrate significant scholarship, leadership, service, and contributions to the health professions.
- Pranathi Meda
- Liz Orr
Ozgur Ekmekci Award
- This Interprofessional Leadership Award recognizes a Health Science student who has demonstrated a capacity for leadership with the field of Health Science, participated in and/or advocated for interprofessional collaboration within and/or beyond the borders of health science, and contributed to the scholarship of health care practice and/or education.
- Shannon Loiseau
Revolutionary Award
- In recognition of demonstrating the embodiment of the GW Occupational Therapy Program's mission and vision. This award signifies exceptional communication, leadership, clinical, and advocacy skills, resulting in extraordinary contributions in the classroom, the community, and the occupational therapy profession.
- Amy Arellano
Metamorphosis Award
- In recognition of demonstrating remarkable growth and transformation throughout the GW Occupational Therapy program. This award signifies continuous development – facing adversity, demonstrating growth from both success and challenges, reflecting and building on all experiences as foundations for change and self-improvement.
- Isabele Magbanua
Peer Inspiration Award
- In recognition of a graduating occupational therapy doctorate student who consistently demonstrates fairness, dependability, and kindness, making a positive impact on their peers and the learning community.
- Sarah Druckman
Outstanding Alumni Award
- In recognition of a distinguished graduate of the George Washington University occupational therapy program that embodies the mission and vision of the program. Recipients of this award reflect the program’s values in their daily work, both within their local community and the greater OT community. This includes exceptional leadership, innovative and collaborative practice, and advocacy for underserved populations. This OTP demonstrates a steadfast commitment to the advancement of the field of occupational therapy that transcends into real-world application.
Clinical Excellence Awards
- In recognition of being an outstanding Fieldwork Educator and Clinical Site who aligns themselves with the GW OTD program mission and vision to facilitate an experience and environment conducive to learning. This award acknowledges the commitment to student growth and development in order to enhance the Occupational Therapy profession.
- Outstanding Clinical Instructor: Amy M. Siegler, OTD, OTR/L, BOCO
- Clinical Site: National Children's Center
View Curricular Theme Award Recipients
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