Beginning classes at WMU in 2001 as a non-traditional student, I was somewhat concerned how faculty and fellow students would receive me. The Occupational Therapy department was very open and welcoming, offering personal and academic support in order to reach my goal of completing the combined BS and MS Occupational Therapy degree.
I have enjoyed the rigors of all aspects of the Occupational Therapy program at WMU. As a parent of two special needs children, it is not always an easy task. The faculty have offered me much support, inspiration and mentoring. In all aspects of life, both personal and professional, I have been challenged to pursue excellence.

It is my pleasure to be able to give back to our department and profession in several ways. Currently, I serve as Graduate Assistant to Professor David Orchanian in Graduate Admissions to the OT program. In this role I assist in answering prospective student questions regarding the program, provide a student prospective to the process and assist in processing student applications. I am also fortunate to be a part-time instructor in the Problem Based Learning class. This is a wonderful opportunity to take what I have learned on my internships and bring that real world experience back our current students.

As part of a student team I am also involved in developing and implementing a new treatment protocol for persons who have sustained a cerbrovascular accident and have continued residual functional deficits. This new protocol, Prolonged Functional Encouraged Use, makes use of encouragement to use the affected hand in everyday tasks as well as intensive therapy six hours per week using the affected hand in those activities. By following this protocol the brain is effectively rewired. This rewiring allows the person who has been affected by the stroke to regain performance in meaningful activities that were lost. This new treatment has the potential to impact countless people who experience a stroke every year. Perhaps the most exciting prospect is that the treatment is not only for persons with a new stroke, but that the rewiring of the brain can take place years after the stroke. We are excited to bring Prolonged Functional Encouraged Use to the clients of the Marion R. Spear Occupational Therapy Teaching Clinic, Adult Program beginning February 2007.

A photo of Graduate Student Paula Lynn teaching in an Occupational Therapy Lab
Paula Lynn teaching a student in the Occupational Therapy Activities of Daily Living Lab

It is my long-term goal to be an Occupational Therapist who is involved in the community. My focus in practice is in adult and geriatric work, especially aging with dignity and aging with developmental disability. Eventually, I hope to return to WMU for postgraduate work and to teach in the Occupational Therapy department. No matter where I go, I plan to continue the legacy of excellence, which is WMU Occupational Therapy.

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