Rita Sourwine ’28, ’30 OTD knows where she wants her career to take her: helping people regain their independence and return to the activities that give their lives meaning. Through St. Ambrose University’s 3+3 pathway, she can begin preparing for that career in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program a year earlier than she originally thought.
The 3+3 pathway allows eligible students to transition into St. Ambrose’s OTD program after just three years of undergraduate study. Through the combination of St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy, that accelerated pathway is now available to Mount Mercy students like Sourwine. Credits earned during her first year in the OTD program also apply toward completion of her bachelor’s degree.
For Sourwine, an exercise science major, learning about the pathway changed what she thought the road to becoming an occupational therapist would look like.
“The traditional route to becoming an occupational therapist felt a little overwhelming,” Sourwine said. “I knew it would mean four years of undergrad followed by OT school, which felt like a long and expensive journey.”
Mount Mercy chemistry professor Joe Nguyen introduced Sourwine to the pathway after she decided occupational therapy was the career she wanted to pursue.
“When I learned that I could start my OTD a year earlier through the 3+3 pathway, I was immediately excited,” Sourwine said. “Not only can I save a year of undergraduate study and associated costs, but I can also be one year closer to entering a career that I am passionate about. I also love that some of my OT coursework will count toward my remaining undergraduate requirements, which helps lighten my undergraduate course load and allows me to begin focusing on OT sooner.”
Through the pathway, Sourwine will build on her undergraduate preparation as a student in St. Ambrose’s OTD program, gaining the knowledge and hands-on experience to help people participate more fully in the activities that matter to them.
For Sourwine, the opportunity represents more than simply beginning her graduate education sooner. It also demonstrates what is possible for students as Mount Mercy and St. Ambrose come together.
“I am really grateful that Mount Mercy and St. Ambrose have come together to provide this opportunity for students,” she said. “Without that connection, the 3+3 pathway would not have been an option for me, and my path to OT school would’ve looked completely different.”
Choosing Where to Pursue Her OTD
As Sourwine prepares to enter St. Ambrose’s OTD program in Fall 2027, she has already made one important decision about what that next chapter will look like: where she will complete her degree.
St. Ambrose’s OTD program is offered at two locations: St. Ambrose’s campus in Davenport and, through a partnership with Loras College, on the Loras campus in Dubuque. Both locations offer students the opportunity to earn their St. Ambrose OTD while preparing for a career centered on helping people of all ages take part in the everyday activities that matter most to them.
After visiting both campuses multiple times, Sourwine said the decision wasn’t easy. Ultimately, she chose the Loras location, drawn to the campus and Dubuque community, as well as the program’s new lab and learning spaces.
For Sourwine, the opportunity to study at the Loras location will add another dimension to a college experience already shaped by connections across institutions.
“I think being able to build relationships and connections across all three universities will make my experience even more impactful.”
Discovering Occupational Therapy
Sourwine knew she was drawn to healthcare long before she knew exactly where that interest would lead. While working as a CNA in a nursing home, she saw firsthand how changes in health could affect a person’s independence and everyday life.
“I saw how losing independence could affect someone’s ability to complete everyday activities, and it made me appreciate how meaningful even the simplest tasks can be,” Sourwine said. “That experience sparked my interest in a career where I could help people regain their independence and quality of life.”
Her interest grew through a service-learning opportunity at Mount Mercy in which she worked with a woman who had experienced a stroke.
“We worked on improving her strength and endurance while incorporating activities that were meaningful to her,” Sourwine explained. “Watching her regain confidence and work toward goals showed me that rehabilitation is about more than physical progress; it is about helping someone get back to the things that give their life meaning and joy. That experience really confirmed for me that occupational therapy was the career I wanted to pursue.”
Those undergraduate experiences have given Sourwine opportunities to apply what she is learning to real-world situations and prepared her for the next stage of her education in St. Ambrose’s OTD program.
“These experiences have helped me learn how to apply what I am learning to real-life situations, which I know will be important as I move into OT school and begin working more closely with different people and populations,” Sourwine said.
Sourwine hopes her path will eventually bring her back to the population that first sparked her interest in healthcare: older adults, particularly individuals who have experienced strokes or other neurological conditions. She can see herself working in an outpatient or home health setting, helping people regain their independence and return to the things that are important to them.
