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Season 3
Episode 7: Different Parts of a PhD
Erin Foster, a returning guest, joins us to discuss different parts to PhD programs. Topics of the episode include components to a program, coursework in a PhD program, discussing dissertations, what a qualifying exam entails, process of picking a topic, what a mentorship looks like, the importance of committees, and how to foster professional development during your academic career. Recorded on 2/9/24. Released 4/8/24.
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Episode 6: Funding for PhD training and Loan Repayment
Valerie Hill, PhD, joins us to discuss how her life circumstances shaped her personal decision to pursue a PhD, the adventure of obtaining an NIH grant, the advice her mentor/ “OT dad” gave her, how she secured funding for her education, the importance of your personal network to locate opportunities, asking programs about funding, repayment options for loans, developing a community, and reaching out to your support system for help. Recorded on 1/29/24.
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Episode 5: Implementation Science
Lisa Juckett, PhD, OTR/L, CHT joins us to discuss all things Implementation Science. In this episode, Dr. Juckett explains the importance of recognizing contexts and community needs, keeping interventions and implementation straightforward, challenges of implementing evidence-based practice into real-world settings, how implementation science advances equitable care, implementation mechanisms, and surmising the future of implementation science. Recorded on 12/4/23.
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Episode 4 Part 2: What to Expect Your First Semester
Rowhea Elmesky, PhD, joins us to discuss what it is like when entering a doctoral program, coursework load, transitioning from being a consumer of knowledge to a producer, self-reflecting, self-regulating studying, aligning your path, immersing yourself in your chosen area of research, and addressing strengths and weaknesses. Recorded 12/19/23.
Episode 3 Part 1: What to Expect Your First Semester
Andrew Butler, PhD, joins us to discuss what it is like when entering a doctoral program, coursework load, transitioning from being a consumer of knowledge to a producer, self-reflecting, self-regulating studying, aligning your path, immersing yourself in your chosen area of research, and addressing strengths and weaknesses. Recorded 11/10/23.
Episode 2: Developing a Mentor/Mentee Relationship
Dr. Beth Skidmore PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, FACRM joins us to discuss how to excel in a mentor and mentee relationship. In this episode, Dr. Skidmore explains how mentors are crucial to research when selecting your PhD program, how a mentee can overcome challenges, taking initiative and responsibility for your own development, embracing humility, introspection, and characteristics to exemplify when you are a mentor yourself. Recorded on 11/9/23.
Episode 1: Tips for Success in your PhD program
Jessica Kersey, PhD, OTR/L joins us for a discussion regarding tips for success in PhD programs by relating her own experiences in her post-doctoral program at University of Pittsburgh. In this episode, Kersey explains what a post-doctoral program is, how to select the right mentor and program, balancing of priorities in both personal life and academia, optimizing your personal network, maintaining motivation, and the importance of your mission/ ”T-shirt” statement. Recorded on 10/31/23.
Season 2
Episode 10: Pathways to Research in High School: Part 2
Erica Curran, MS, joins us to share their interest about research. Erica is a high school instructor for the Science Research Program. In this episode Erica discusses the challenges about research, importance of community relationships, and give our listeners recommendations on developing a pathway program. Recorded on 05/10/23, Released on 06/12/23.
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Episode 9: Pathways to Research in High School: Part 1
Meghann Humphries, PhD, MS, joins us to share their interest about how different organisms in nature generate diversity. In this episode Dr. Humphries also discusses the challenges about research, importance of community relationships, and give our listeners recommendations on developing a pathway program. Recorded on 05/10/23, Released on 06/12/23.
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Episode 8: Humility Goes a Long Way
Dr. Adam Pearson, OTD, OTR/L, joins us to discuss what community engagement research looks like, how to get connected with the community, and the funding process behind it. In this podcast, he emphasizes the importance of practicing humility, immersing yourself in a different culture, and spending time in your community as important takeaways for learners interested in community engagement research. Recorded on 04/13/23, Released on 05/08/23
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Episode 7: Overcoming the Challenges of a PhD
Lyndsie Schultz, PhD, joins to discuss some of the challenges we have encountered throughout our PhD experiences. In this discussion Dr. Shultz shares her story and offers strategies on how to navigate healthy mentor relationships and the different types of resources available for current and prospective students. Recorded on 03/07/23, Released on 04/10/23
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Episode 6: Effective Advocacy in Academia
Mario Millsap, MSOT, OTR/L joins us to talk about advocacy and academia. He shares his experience of being an advocate within his community as well as how mentors have contributed to his development as an advocate. In this episode you can learn ways you can be an advocate as a learner, researcher, or faculty member. Recorded on 01/20/23, Released on 03/27/23
Episode 5: Successful Recommendation Letters
Allison King, MD, MPH, PhD joins us today to discuss recommendation letters. In this episode, Dr. King joins us to answer questions about what is a recommendation letter, how and when to ask for one, what makes a strong one, and some common mistakes in recommendation letters. Recorded on 12/20/22, Released on 03/06/23
“Nobody cares more about your career than you do so help the person who wants to help you.” – Dr. King
Episode 4: Preparing for a PhD Interview
Lisa Connor, PhD, MSOT, OTR/L joins us to talk about the interview process for PhD programs. In this episode we discuss what to expect, how to prepare, and what not to do during an interview so you can stand out as an interviewee. Recorded on 02/01/23, Released on 02/13/23
Episode 3: Sexism in Higher Education
Dr. Razan Hamed, PhD, OTR/L joins us to talk about the message behind the documentary, Picture a Scientist. In this documentary a biologist, a chemist, and a geologist discuss their personal experiences in science while overcoming harassment, discrimination, and revolutionizing the culture of science. Recorded on 11/04/22, Released on 02/06/23
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Episode 2: Success as an International Graduate Student
Lingzi Luo, MSW, MPH and Natasha Smet, OTD, OTR/L joins us to talk about their experience during their graduate studies as international learners in the United States. In this episode, we discuss resources and strategies that facilitated their success. Recorded on 10/07/22, Released on 01/10/23
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Episode 1: Occupational Science
Dr. Khalilah Johnson, PhD, MS, OTR/L, joins us to talk about Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. In this episode, we discuss the definition of occupational science, the difference between occupational science and occupational therapy, and how to get involved. Recorded on 9/16/22, Released on 12/15/22
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SEASON 1
Episode 13: Funding Research
Dr. Satvika Garg, PhD, OTR/L, the Scientific Programs Officer for the American Occupational Therapy Foundation, to discuss what research funding is, who can get it and from where.
Episode 12: Submitting an Abstract
Inema Orukari, MD, PhD, discuss the why, where and hows of submitting an abstract.
Episode 11: So You Want to Earn a PhD? Now What?
Emily Kringle, PhD, MOT, talk about the transition from being a clinician to a PhD student.
Episode 10: All Things Conferences
Cristina Reyes-Smith OTD, OTR/L discusses what conferences are, when people go to them and how to find the conferences that interest you.
Episode 9: Cross Cultural Research
Listen in to our conversation with Dr. Lenin Grajo, PhD, EdM, OTR/L and Samy Hamdan, MSOT, OTR/L to discuss culture, how it contributes to clinical education and practice and the implications for research questions and interpretation.
Episode 8: CVs and Resumes
Benny Pinwei Chen, PhD joins us to talk about CVs, what they are, how they differ from a resumé and what types of things to include when you are applying for a PhD.
Episode 7: Managing Failure and Rejection
Jaclyn Schwartz, PhD, OTR/L, to discuss how to manage failure and rejection by providing tips and strategies for resilience with hosts Kelly Harris, PhD, CCC-SLP and Catherine Hoyt, PhD, OTD, OTR/L.
Episode 6: OTD versus PhD versus EdD
Alejandra Arroyo, OTD, and Stephanie Lancaster, EdD to discuss the difference between OTD versus PhD versus EdD with hosts Kelly Harris, PhD, CCC-SLP and Catherine Hoyt, PhD, OTD, OTR/L.
Episode 5: All About Mentorship
Peter Myers, PhD, joins us to talk all about mentorship.
Episode 4: A Day in the Life of a Researcher
Cece Calhoun, MD, MSPH, MBA, shares a what a typical day looks like for a researcher
Episode 3: Applying to a PhD
Dr. Kerri Morgan, PhD, OTR/L, ATP joins us to discuss the steps to apply to a PhD program.
Episode 2: Different Paths to Research
Dr. Erin Foster, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, and Dr. Ashley Housten, OTD, MSCI, OTR/L, discussing their path to research, what the different degrees mean and how clinical training has supported their path in research.
Episode 1: Is Research Right for Me?
Dr. Binyam Nardos, PhD joins us to discuss how they determined that research was the right path for them.
Binyam Nardos, PhD, an instructor in the Program in Occupational Therapy at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, passed unexpectedly Jan. 29, 2022. We are grateful to have had Dr. Nardos give his expertise about choosing a path in research for our podcast.