Finding Her Path: Rita Sourwine’s Accelerated Journey to a Career in Occupational Therapy

During her visit, Rita spoke with Mount Mercy professors who immediately showed how invested they were in their students’ futures. She connected with a professor about her career goals and shadowing opportunities before even officially becoming a Mustang.

With her interest in healthcare taking shape, exercise science became a natural fit. Through the program,  Kelli O’Neil, assistant professor, helped Rita explore how she could turn that interest into meaningful work, connecting her with a service-learning opportunity that would ultimately shape her career direction.

“I worked with a woman who had experienced a stroke,” Rita explained. “We worked on improving her strength and endurance while incorporating activities that were meaningful to her. Watching her regain confidence and work towards goals showed me that rehabilitation is about more than physical progress; it is about helping someone get back to the things that give their life meaning and joy. That experience really confirmed for me that occupational therapy was the career I wanted to pursue.”

Once Rita knew occupational therapy was the career she wanted to pursue, another Mount Mercy professor helped her discover the best path to get there.

Professor Joe Nguyen, PhD, introduced Rita to a new 3+3 pathway made possible through Mount Mercy’s combination with St. Ambrose University. The pathway allows eligible Mount Mercy students to begin St. Ambrose’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy program after just three years of undergraduate study.

“The traditional route to becoming an occupational therapist felt a little overwhelming,” Rita noted. “I knew it would mean four years of undergrad followed by OT school, which felt like a long and expensive journey.”

Instead of completing four full years of undergraduate study before beginning OT school, Rita can transition into the OTD program after her third year at Mount Mercy. Credits earned during her first year in the graduate program will also apply toward completion of her bachelor’s degree.

“When I learned that I could start my OTD a year earlier through the 3+3 pathway, I was immediately excited,” Rita said. “Not only can I save a year of undergraduate study and associated costs, but I can also be one year closer to entering a career that I am passionate about. I also love that some of my OT coursework will count toward my remaining undergraduate requirements, which helps lighten my undergraduate course load and allows me to begin focusing on OT sooner.”

For Rita, the pathway represents more than simply finishing her education faster. It is also an example of the new opportunities available to Mount Mercy students through the university’s combination with St. Ambrose.

“I am really grateful that Mount Mercy and St. Ambrose have come together to provide this opportunity for students,” she said. “Without that connection, the 3+3 pathway would not have been an option for me, and my path to OT school would’ve looked completely different.”

The new pathway also gave Rita another choice: where she wanted to complete her OTD. St. Ambrose’s OTD program is offered at two locations: St. Ambrose’s campus in Davenport and, through a partnership with Loras College, on the Loras campus in Dubuque.

After visiting both locations multiple times, the decision wasn’t easy. Ultimately, Rita chose the Loras location, drawn to the campus and Dubuque community, as well as the program’s new lab and learning spaces.

For Rita, studying at the Loras location also adds another dimension to a college experience already shaped by connections across institutions.

“I think being able to build relationships and connections across all three universities will make my experience even more impactful.”

As Rita prepares for her next step, she can see how her coursework at Mount Mercy has prepared her for what lies ahead. Through exercise science, she has completed hands-on labs including VO2 max testing, worked through case studies, and developed exercise programs for a variety of populations.

“These experiences have helped me learn how to apply what I am learning to real-life situations, which I know will be important as I move into OT school and begin working more closely with different people and populations,” Rita explained.

Rita hopes her path will eventually bring her back to the population that first sparked her interest in healthcare: older adults, particularly individuals who have experienced strokes or other neurological conditions. She can see herself working in an outpatient or home health setting, helping people regain their independence and return to the things that are important to them.

Her path to occupational therapy may look different than the one she originally pictured, but that is exactly what Rita encourages other Mount Mercy students to embrace.

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions, step outside of your comfort zone, and explore new opportunities; you never know where they might lead you.”