Pipersville Resident Kelly Davis Receives Ethel Beard Burstein Scholarship

PHILADELPHIA, PA (11/27/2012)(readMedia)-- Kelly Davis, a second-year Entry-Level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy student at Thomas Jefferson University's Jefferson School of Health Professions (JSHP), received the Ethel Beard Burstein Scholarship Fund. Named after and created by Ethel Beard Burstein, an occupational therapist with strong ties to Philadelphia, this is the second year the scholarship has been awarded.

"Ms. Burstein is an amazing woman who dedicated her life to occupational therapy, and I hope to do the same," said Davis. "Her generosity will enable me to focus on my Level II Fieldwork experiences and complete my education at Jefferson. I plan on going into clinical practice and hope to make a difference in people's lives, just as Ms. Burstein has."

Burstein founded this scholarship after being greatly moved by her mentors, occupational therapists Helen Willard and Clare Spackman.

"My hope is that the scholarship recipients will view occupational therapy with dedication to improve the quality of life for our patients," says Burstein, who now lives in Arizona. "In return, we as therapists have the rewards of challenging work and training students to be creative, diversified and honorable professional clinicians. I can't emphasize enough the importance of being a creative and innovative therapist, and not giving up when faced with a challenging patient or client."

The fund will help support second year occupational therapy students who will work in a clinical setting for at least two years after graduation. Recipients are selected annually by faculty members through an objective application process. Applicants should be Philadelphia residents in good academic standing.

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About Thomas Jefferson University

The Department of Occupational Therapy at Jefferson School of Health Professions is part of Thomas Jefferson University (TJU), the largest free standing academic medical center in Philadelphia and nationally renowned for medical and health sciences education and innovative research. Founded in 1824, TJU also includes Jefferson Medical College (JMC), the Jefferson Schools of Nursing, Health Professions and Population Health and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Jefferson University Physicians is TJU's multi-specialty physician practice consisting of the full-time faculty of JMC. Thomas Jefferson University partners with its clinical affiliate, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals.