Occupational Therapy Month Spotlight: One Graduate's Journey From Student to Clinician to Educator  

April is Occupational Therapy Month which is a time to celebrate the dedicated professionals who help patients reclaim independence, dignity, and quality of life every single day. At Bryant & Stratton College, we are proud to recognize alumni who carry that mission forward in their communities. This month, we talked with Allan Schroeder, a 2017 graduate of our Syracuse campus AAS Occupational Therapy Assistant program about his journey, his passion for the profession, and his exciting return to campus. 

A Unique Path to OTA 

Allan’s story is one of dedication, multitasking, and genuine community investment. While completing his OTA coursework at B&SC, he was simultaneously serving as a soccer coach in the college’s athletics department which was a role he held for six years between 2016 and 2021. During that time, he helped the team claim two national championships in the USCAA. That kind of commitment to both education and community didn’t happen by accident. 

“Bryant & Stratton College was local, affordable, accelerated, and soon to have an accredited OTA program,” Allan explained. “I was also able to transfer in many credits from another college. These factors were all huge motivators in my choice.” 

What he found inside the classroom matched the quality he had hoped for. Allan points to the diversity of his cohort as one of the most meaningful parts of his experience. Classmates ranged from recent high school graduates to mid-career adults seeking something new, each bringing different life experiences and professional backgrounds to the table. 

Professors Who Made a Lasting Impression 

Great educators don’t just teach, they inspire. For Allan, two professors stand out as central to his development: Professor Hall and Professor Adamo-Cass. “It was evident from the first week of the first semester their vested interest in passing along their experiences and knowledge,” he recalled. “I could see how authentic they were in ensuring the material was not only taught and carried over but also valued.” 

That authenticity matters in a field like Occupational Therapy, where the bridge between classroom instruction and real-world patient care is everything. Allan clearly took that lesson to heart. 

What Makes OT Work Meaningful 

Since graduating, Allan has worked exclusively in skilled nursing facilities. “The aspect I enjoy most about working as an OTA are the differences between the similarities in patient cases,” he said. “I see a lot of women and men with the same diagnosis, but each person brings an individual component.” 

A patient’s medical history, prior hospitalizations, lifestyle, diet, and family support all influence treatment, meaning no two care plans look exactly alike, even when the admission diagnosis is identical. For Allan, that variability keeps the work engaging and demands creative, individualized thinking every single day. It’s a reminder of what Occupational Therapy Month is all about: honoring a profession that sees the whole person, not just the diagnosis. 

The Hidden Demands of the Profession 

Ask most people what an OTA does, and they’ll describe therapy exercises or adaptive equipment. Allan wants people to understand that the role goes far deeper. In skilled nursing, creating treatment plans can be among the least challenging parts of the job. 

“Sometimes to be successful for your patients and also for yourself, OT practitioners need to be very efficient in time management, prioritizing non-clinical duties, navigating large facilities, coordinating schedules with other disciplines, and communicating effectively with IDT members,” Allan explained. “I feel that organizing these responsibilities and demands on a daily basis are often overlooked in the OT field.” 

It’s an important observation. OT practitioners are coordinators, communicators, and advocates just as much as they are clinicians, and recognizing that full scope of work is part of what makes this month’s celebration so meaningful. 

A Story That Shows OT’s True Impact 

When asked to share a moment that captured the true impact of occupational therapy, Allan offered a story that speaks volumes. He once treated a patient admitted for general weakness, malnourishment, and frequent falls at home. Over time, the patient’s functional tolerance improved; their strength returned, and their outlook on life shifted.  

But the real moment of impact came months later, when the patient returned to the facility as a visitor. They were living alone. They no longer needed adaptive equipment. “Full recovery, plus some,” Allan said simply. 

That’s the power of occupational therapy. It’s about recovery, transformation, and giving someone their life back. 

Giving Back and Returning to Campus 

In the summer of 2025, Allan was invited back to Bryant & Stratton College’s Syracuse campus as a lab instructor, working with the newest cohorts of the OTA program once a week during the fall semester. He is already looking forward to returning this fall. 

“I hope in the next 5 years I am able to continue that presence on campus giving back,” he said, “and hopefully transition as a treating therapist to an assistant director or director of a therapy department.” 

It’s a full-circle moment, from student to coach to clinician to educator, and it reflects everything we hope for in our alumni. Allan brings the same authenticity and investment to his students that Professors Hall and Adamo-Cass once brought to him. 

Celebrating OT Month and the People Behind It 

Occupational Therapy Month is a chance to shine a light on a profession that quietly transforms lives every day in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, schools, and homes across the country. It’s a chance to recognize the OTAs and OTs who show up with expertise, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to helping people live more fully. 

Alumni like Allan Schroeder remind us why the work of preparing the next generation of OTA practitioners matters so deeply. From the soccer fields of the USCAA to the therapy gym floors of skilled nursing facilities, Allan has spent his career showing up for others and now he’s passing that spirit on to the students who will carry it forward. 

To every occupational therapy professional in our community: thank you.