(Pronouns: she/her)
Name and credentials: Leah Ahn, OTD, MS, OTR/L, CAS, NTMTC
Degree and year: PP-OTD 2025
What are your prior degrees and at which institutions?
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Stony Brook University, 2019
Bachelor of Arts in Biology/ Minor in Communications and Cultural Studies, Indiana University Bloomington, 2010
What are your goals for the future after you graduate?
The PP-OTD program at the MGH Institute pushed me beyond my comfort zone in the best ways possible. Each assignment demanded a level of critical thinking I had not previously explored, whether I was analyzing peer-reviewed studies or translating evidence into practical interventions for school-based occupational therapy. My instructors guided me to see potential solutions where I used to see only problems, giving me the confidence to engage in research, implement projects, and disseminate results. I also honed technical skills, such as using Excel for data analysis—a tool that once intimidated me but has now become an indispensable part of my daily workflow. Equally transformative was the emphasis on public speaking and presentations. Through various course assignments and collaborative projects, I gradually grew more comfortable addressing professional audiences and defending my recommendations with data-driven insights. These experiences expanded both my skill set and my professional worldview, setting me on a path where continuous improvement feels not just essential, but exhilarating. As I move forward in my career, I carry these strengthened abilities in research, project planning, dissemination, and data analysis, confident that they will serve me well in every endeavor I undertake.