Born and raised in Clinton, Janie Tiller ’24 has been familiar with Presbyterian College all her life. Though she went away for college, Tiller was drawn back to Clinton for graduate school largely because of the relationships and unique opportunities available at a small program.
“Growing up in Clinton, I was able to experience the communal spirit and connectedness that exists between the city and college,” says Tiller, now a student in the Occupational Therapy Doctoral program. “This relationship provides a wonderful opportunity for students to apply clinical OT skills while serving others in the area.”
Tiller raves about the student-faculty ratio at PC OTD; the small class sizes and time spent with hands-on faculty members have fostered her personal growth as a future clinician. She says the individualized instruction during hands-on lab activities has allowed her to refine her technique and gain confidence in patient handling before starting fieldwork.
“One of my favorite memories was ax-throwing during our kinesiology lab,” says Tiller. “We broke down the arthrokinematics and biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system during a functional task. Innovative and interactive activities like this one make learning fun!”
Another engaging activity that comes to mind for Tiller is the adaptive breakfast she coordinated through the PC Student Occupational Therapy Association. Participants are provided a buffet-style breakfast and a “diagnosis.” They sit next to an OT student and are educated about their diagnosis and adaptive equipment that can be used for self-feeding.
Tiller is currently implementing her doctoral capstone experience, using Tai Chi and grounding techniques to address symptomology and fall prevention in individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
“During my second Level 1 fieldwork, I recognized a specific need for complementary approaches to address autonomic dysfunction in this population,” says Tiller. “It has been so rewarding to work with participants at Greenville Area Parkinson’s Society and Minds Matter in Fort Mill.”
Tiller is an active member of the national occupational therapy honor society and Pi Theta Epsilon honor society, and she has served as the community and volunteer coordinator for the PC Student Occupational Therapy Association. Following graduation, Tiller hopes to begin her OT career in the acute care setting in Greenville. “In the long term, I would love to become a student fieldwork educator and give OT students the opportunity to learn and grow through clinical experience like I did,” says Tiller.
