UNC CDL: Trainees: Trainee Clinical Experiences

"I have served as an MCH fellow in physical therapy for two years at the CDL. During this time, I have had the opportunity to train clinically as part of various interdisciplinary teams, including the School Age Team, NFRD Team, (Neurodevelopmental Functioning in Rare Disorders), and Hunter's Team. This training has been instrumental in my growth and understanding of evidence-based evaluation and treatment, collaboration and communication with other clinicians and families, and leadership development when serving as Family Advisor. In addition, I have also had the opportunity to be involved with the UNC-CH Maternal and Child Health Consortium, with various local and state leaders in the development of a cultural competence curriculum for interdisciplinary healthcare professionals. These additional opportunities have been extremely valuable in the overall learning that I am experiencing as a CDL trainee."

"One of my most educational and informative CDL training experiences was observing and interacting with various occupational therapy practice sites in the community. I had the opportunity to do everything from observe an individual treatment session at an elementary school to participating in a residential environment assessment in an RSI (Residential Services, Inc.) home. I gained an understanding of the multiple settings and populations that occupational therapy is able to assist in the community. I also improved my understanding of how occupational therapists work with clients to promote their engagement and success in their daily occupations."

"The clinical experience that I have gained at the CDL has proven invaluable in its variety and interest. The dedication of everyone at the CDL to the service of individuals with disabilities, their families, and the community is truly inspiring. My involvement on the interdisciplinary teams at the CDL and my experience at community sites have helped me to not only develop further competence in my own field, but also to better appreciate and understand the work and expertise of professionals from other disciplines. Direct and ongoing collaboration between professionals is the hallmark of work at the CDL and is an ideal turned into reality."

"Being a CDL trainee has been a great experience for me. As a nutrition student, I have had limited experience working with families of children with developmental disabilities. Seeing the dedication of the families and learning about the challenges they face has been an interesting and eye-opening experience. But most of all, I have truly enjoyed and benefited from the interdisciplinary team meetings and opportunities to observe professionals from other disciplines interact with clients. The opportunity to hear the perspectives and opinions of many different disciplines has been an invaluable experience."

"The clinical experiences at the CDL have added breadth and depth to my professional endeavors. Working with multiple disciplines has helped widen my perspective and has increased my understanding of the challenges and strengths of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. It has been so pleasant and rewarding to work with and be inspired by dedicated professionals who continually strive to improve the lives of children with developmental disabilities and their families."

"My CDL clinical experience has been very rewarding. I have enjoyed participating on an interdisciplinary team and collaborating with other professionals. I have learned how beneficial each member's input is to the team to provide an overall picture of the children I work with. The knowledge that each discipline contributes during an assessment ultimately helps to benefit the children and families that we serve."

"I have enjoyed my fellowship at the CDL. The most rewarding experience was participating on the NFRD (Neurodevelopmental Functioning in Rare Disorders) team, working with children diagnosed with rare genetic disorders. The second most valuable experience was participating on 4 research teams, learning how to initiate, write, and implement research projects from start to finish. This fellowship opportunity was priceless."