For Amy Kashiwa, OTD, OTR/L, being an agent of change and addressing current societal issues through teaching and professional development takes high priority. And while her education at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) works toward that priority, her passion and dedication to advancing the profession guides her focus.
Kashiwa is a 2015 graduate of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program at RMUoHP. “The RMUoHP program aligned with my goals of pursuing specialization in mental health and advancing the profession through scholarly engagement,” explained Kashiwa.
Being a single mother to two high school children, Kashiwa needed flexibility to pursue a post-professional doctoral degree. Kashiwa shares a favorite memory while studying at RMUoHP: “I walked to my desk and found that my 13-year-old daughter had scrawled a note on my yellow legal pad: ‘Keep working hard mom!’ followed by two overlapping hearts and her first initial. I still have the legal pad.”
Kashiwa attributes many of her professional strengths and successes to her time at RMUoHP. “My RMUoHP education impacts everything I do. Upholding a high ethical standard of practice is important to me. I am a better evidence-based practitioner; I am engaged in many scholarly activities, advocacy, and leadership opportunities because of my education at RMUoHP. During my first campus visit in 2014, I received the inaugural Advancing Knowledge Scholarship Award. Receiving the award was a great honor. It gave me the confidence that I could be an agent of change after RMUoHP,” said Kashiwa.
Since graduation, Kashiwa has had many ongoing accomplishments and successes. One of her greatest accomplishments is publishing “Occupational Therapy and Veteran Suicide: A Call to Action” in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Occupational Therapy.
She also shares excitement for other professional projects: “I am collaborating on several exciting scholarly projects: a scoping review manuscript, implementing new models of academic mentorship, and projects related to grief and loss.”
Kashiwa finds the work rewarding. “Occupational therapy is a profoundly impactful field with many options for specialization. Working with clients in diverse settings and across the lifespan is meaningful and challenging work. You will not regret pursuing a career in occupational therapy!”
Kashiwa has served on the board of the RMUoHP Alumni Association Board since 2019.
