Dominique Como, Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Occupational Therapy
As a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, I have been afforded many opportunities to gain experience and develop as a researcher.
In the last year, I have strengthened my grantsmanship by participating in the Workshop in Implementation Science and Health Services (WISH): Advancing Grant Writing Skills for Rehabilitation Researchers. While I learned a number of skills related to grant writing, one of the biggest take-aways from the experience was that the funding agency’s program officer can be an excellent ally through the grant preparation/submission process, and they want to be of assistance. So, we should utilize their expertise! Additionally, I have secured funding from the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF), to examine the lived experiences of older adults utilizing post-acute care services, which contributes to my overarching goal of reducing barriers to health and improving the overall healthcare encounters of disproportionately affected populations, across the lifespan.
None of this would have been possible without the support of the department and the exceptional mentorship I have received from Natalie Leland, PhD, OTR/L, BCG, FAOTA, FGSA. Mentorship has been a major focus of my postdoctoral experience and one of my top priorities. Knowing this, Dr. Leland has carved time in her schedule to meet with me one-on-one, offered her undivided attention, and provided clarity on my unpolished research ideas. As Dr. Leland has shared her experience and expertise with me, I have been better able to articulate what it is I want to accomplish with my research and felt more confident that it is something that I can achieve.
I am sure that my postdoctoral training has and will continue to propel me ever closer to this goal and prepare me for the next stage as I develop a grant proposal for a Career Development Award.