Madeline Cushing ’22, M’23
Double Warrior Seeks Ph.D.
Madeline recently graduated from Merrimack College after earning both her bachelor’s degree and master degree as a double warrior. During her graduate studies at Merrimack, Madeline served as a graduate ambassador. While an undergraduate student, Madeline held an internship at an outpatient clinic called OT Works 4 Kidz.
“I shadowed an occupational therapist and learned about occupational therapy in a pediatric treatment setting. The occupational therapists encouraged facilitated play treatment methods among youth patients. I then accepted a Graduate Fellowship position at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. There, I was working alongside recreational therapists with their adaptive sports program. We worked with individuals who had physical and cognitive disabilities to improve their participation in physical activities and recreational sports, all through adaptive exercise.”
“I decided to attend Merrimack after meeting their health science faculty & staff. I was greeted with excitement from the faculty & staff which made me excited to learn.”
Madeline felt like the sky was the limit when at Merrimack. “I felt like growth opportunities were limitless, and the professors that I had were supportive of my growth. I was given many leadership opportunities, which set me apart when applying for graduate school. My bachelor’s degree program introduced me to many of the careers within the field of rehabilitation. This was the first step in my educational journey at Merrimack; I then stayed for my Master’s which provided me with an abundance of hands-on research and work experience within my field of interest. Since my time at Merrimack, I have secured a position at the University of Vermont, where I will study in their doctoral Occupational Therapy program. All of my success is attributed to the experiences that I had at Merrimack College.”
