Excellence in Education for ECU recreational therapy
Support from alumni helped East Carolina University’s recreational therapy program initially gain nomination and later honored as this year’s Excellence in Education award winner, issued by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association.
Alex Langley along with Kristina Cudney and Laura Gremore were instrumental as alumni advocates, working with Dr. David Loy and others to submit the nomination.
The nomination outlined how ECU’s program adjusted and thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic. That included the development of the Pirate Wellness Program, which was awarded by ECU as the most innovative service-learning program that matched educational training opportunities with much-needed community service provision in eastern North Carolina. The Pirate Wellness Program included providing virtual telehealth that served children with disabilities, older adults isolated by COVID-19 and young adults with disabilities transitioning to the workforce. It also allowed for RT student interns to continue the development of comprehensive programs for various populations in stress management, exercise, healthy nutrition, cognitive and social skills and other areas.
Faculty members also collaborated with other North Carolina educators in a document to help with management of the clinical internship during the pandemic, titled, “Guidance for Remote Internship Activities State of North Carolina Clinical Coordinators and Professional Leadership Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Education Program.” The document provided valuable guidance for educators to help students meet internship requirements during the pandemic.
“To be recognized by our peers through our professional organization, the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, as the 2022 recipient for the Excellence in Education Award is a tremendous honor,” said Dr. Cari Autry, ECU recreational therapy program director and an assistant professor in the Department of Recreation Sciences who noted in the U.S. and Canada combined there are more than 100 recreational therapy/therapeutic recreation academic programs. “The past few years have been challenging to say the least and our faculty worked very hard to meet the needs of the students while focusing to maintain our standards for quality education and internship opportunities in RT. These challenges being followed by this honor I believe shows the passion we have for what we do and our dedication to our students and to the profession overall.
“Knowing we were recognized as one out of so many other RT programs that have had the same challenges, dedication and passion is quite humbling.”
Rebecca Burnworth and Drs. Lori Ann Eldridge, Jaehyun Kim, Loy and former ECU faculty member Megan Janke attended the ATRA Conference in Birmingham, Alabama. The total experience of traveling to Alabama, interacting with colleagues and receiving the trophy in person was rewarding for them.
“It was so gratifying to receive actual applause at our national ATRA conference in Birmingham from our peers and fellow recreational therapists for our program accomplishments,” Loy said. “There was nothing more gratifying than to be on the stage with my colleagues and be recognized by our peers and fellow recreational therapists for the amazing work we’ve continued during these difficult times.”
Current ECU RT faculty include Autry, Burnworth, Eldridge, Dr. Matthew Fish, Lauren Harell, Kim, Loy and Wendy Whisner. The ECU RT program is part of the Department of Recreation Sciences inside the College of Health and Human Performance.
ECU recreational therapy graduates gain the ability to work alongside physicians, occupational and physical therapists, nurses and other key members of an individual’s treatment team. The Bachelor of Science degree has a strong clinical focus, teaching students the skills needed to work with people in allied healthcare settings with an aim to benefit people who might have a disability or are recovering from a serious illness or accident.