Creighton’s Phoenix campus celebrates inaugural commencement ceremony
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The Creighton University Health Sciences Campus – Phoenix opened in 2021 to address the Valley’s healthcare worker shortage through exceptional health sciences training. The campus celebrated a milestone on May 12, when 26 graduates received Doctor of Occupational Therapy degrees from the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions.
These occupational therapy (OT) students spent the past three years completing their academic education and honing their clinical skills in preparation for impactful careers. And they played a “unique role in Creighton's history and the formation of our Phoenix community,” says assistant professor of occupational therapy Carrie Bose.
When the students started their OT coursework, the campus was in its beginning stages. The students committed themselves to the brand-new, hybrid program and had faith in the vision of the Phoenix campus. “Our inaugural OT commencement in Phoenix was a celebration of the cohort establishing themselves as servant leaders and advocates for future Creighton students in our new campus,” says Bose.
Our inaugural OT commencement in Phoenix was a celebration of the cohort establishing themselves as servant leaders and advocates for future Creighton students in our new campus.
— Carrie Bose, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
The students, faculty and staff charted a path forward for the program in Phoenix. Caitlin Sherry, OTD, spoke to her cohort at the commencement ceremony and acknowledged their special experience. “Creighton became more of a home than just a school for me over the past three years. My time at Creighton will always be very meaningful as it has allowed me the opportunity to pursue a career in the field that I love and do something about which I am so passionate,” says Sherry.
This close-knit community of students has set a precedent at the health sciences campus in Phoenix. Amy Friedman Wilson, PharmD, dean of the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, traveled to Phoenix to participate in the momentous occasion.
“It was an honor to be part of the first commencement ceremony on the Phoenix campus. The Class of 2024 is a group of competent, compassionate individuals who will use their evidence-based training rooted in Ignatian values to care for our community,” says Dean Wilson. “I have no doubt these talented professionals will be among the healthcare leaders of tomorrow.”
