Pediatric Research Leads to Interest in Pursuing OT

 Michelle Puma, Verrazzano Class of 2022, completed major in Psychology 

When I first started thinking of my capstone research, I thought I had it figured out. In my sophomore year, I was interested in physical therapy as a career and had planned ahead to do research related to that field. In the fall of 2019 I was lucky enough to have a mentor guide me in researching the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor on spinal cord injured mice. By the spring of 2020 most labs were closed in-person due to the pandemic, but I continued on with my research. I presented at the Undergraduate Conference and thought the hard part was over; I just needed to write my research paper.

Time passed, and I was in my senior year preparing to write my paper when unfortunately, my mentor was not available to help. This was a major setback considering I had completed most of the work. However, Cheryl helped me create a different capstone proposal that related to my passion of working with children with disabilities.

My idea for career paths has shifted since taking several elective classes for my Disability Studies minor. Understanding the bio-psycho social aspect of having a disability and the contextual factors that hinder the activities that are meaningful to someone with a disability has led to my interest in pursuing occupational therapy.

Cheryl connected me with Dr. Amanda Rotondo who had previous research in pediatrics. Dr. Rotondo was so helpful and accommodating. So much so, that writing a new topic didn’t seem as stressful anymore. I was able to work with her on the effect of disruption in continuation of PT/OT providers for children with disabilities.

After conducting this research, I gained a deeper understanding of the two professions, and understand how personal and environmental factors are considered when a person with a disability regresses in particular skills.

How One Class Can Change Your Career Path

 

Victoria Sanchez, Verrazzano Class of 2020, Completed major in Biology Health Science

For years, I had waited anxiously for the moment to arrive where I would be attending college. I decided to continue my journey as a student athlete for the Women’s Soccer Team, winning three CUNY Champs and attending NCAA three times. In the student perspective, I was focusing on my career as a Physical Therapist.  Little did I realize how my life would take a full 180 and I came to realize that I no longer wanted to be an athlete nor become a Physical Therapist.   

As scary as the transition was, my decision led to my new career choice in Occupational Therapy. I was encouraged to relate my Capstone Project to my career and I knew this would be my last chance to study something that had always interested me before I began my focus on Occupational Therapy.

I have always had an interest in how the brain operates and how one minor change can completely alter it. This fascination continued through my Immunology class with Professor Liu-Sullivan.  One topic we went into detail about was Glioblastoma Multiforme, one of the most aggressive brain cancers with no promising treatment to remove it from the body. We learned about tumor suppressor genes and how they have evolved to oncogenes and the mechanism behind it.

I decided to branch out and learn more of Glioblastoma Multiforme by conducting research with Professor Liu-Sullivan as my mentor. I learned so much during this project! I accessed Oncomine, a data website that conducted multiple studies for each type of cancer, then  specified what sub-type of cancer the sample contained. I had to focus on T Helper 2 cells and the website made it extremely easy for me to type in the gene I was looking for along with samples that matched Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Of the six genes I researched, one of them stood out amongst the rest. The STAT6 gene is known to be a part of the transcription factor,s but also activates the IL4 responses in the immune system. If mutation occurs in STAT6, it also damages the other T Helper 2 cell genes like IL4, IL13, and IL5 function and causes the development of tumors.

During this Capstone Project, I realized that besides specializing in Pediatrics for Occupational Therapy, that I also want to certify in neuro or brain injury and continue my interest in the brain by helping future patients get back to their daily routines.

My advice is don’t be afraid to continue learning, even if it is not in your intended field of work. There is so much out there for students to expand on and find new interests in, and the Capstone Project is a perfect opportunity for that. Take advantage of it and continue learning while you can.