Student Achievements
occupational therapy graduate student's grant proposal approved for medical equipment
February 12, 2018
Michelle Robinson, a graduate of the Master of Occupational Therapy and Science program wrote a grant proposal for over $500,000 during her graduate studies to benefit a large hospital. This past year, her grant has been approved and funded. Since completing the program at GVSU in June of 2017, the hospital offered her a job and Michelle is now a full-time employee at the facility. Michelle said, “it’s been an exciting ride to see how the changes from the grant affect patient safety and quality of care.” She had a personal experience working with a patient in the hospital. Michelle said, “[the patient] was the inspiration for the grant as she wouldn’t have been able to get out of bed during her hospital admission without the lift equipment the grant was used for.”
Michelle is a licensed occupational therapist in the state of Michigan. She has experience practicing in various settings with diverse populations. Grant writing has helped Michelle use her passion to make real change at a systematic level. Michelle said, “the hospital lift grant ensures patient and staff safety when critically ill patients need transporting, using lifts mean less staff injury and increased patient safety.” Michelle did not expect to pursue working with marginalized populations in this traditional medical setting however, she has found her passion since working in the hospital.
Michelle contributes her success to several mentors throughout her experiences. Scott Truskowski, one of Michelle’s professors during the program was an inspiration who provided her the motivation to start grant writing. Michelle also acknowledges her current supervisor for providing the daily encouragement to utilize her passions at work.
Congratulations to Michelle on her grant writing accomplishments!