Graduate Profile: Susan Kattula
Helping children rehabilitate from illness is a career for the truly compassionate. With her enthusiasm for helping others, Alma College alumna Susan Kattula fits the bill.
After graduating from Alma in 2003, Kattula, who studied psychology and exercise and health science, attended Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., where she earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.
She worked for a pediatric clinic in Chicago before moving back to St. Louis to accept a position at a specialty pediatric hospital, where she primarily sees outpatient and day treatment children.
“The coursework at Alma prepared me very well for both graduate school and my career,” says Kattula. “The classes within my major and minor gave me a strong base on which to build occupational therapy specific information.”
She credits her major in psychology, in particular, with helping her improve interactions with her clients.
“It has assisted me with understanding certain behaviors and why they may be occurring,” says Kattula. “In addition, I have been able to draw on some of the theories to make suggestions to help parents of children I work with address these behaviors.”
She also credits Alma for providing her with opportunities to develop leadership sills and pursue experiences she may have otherwise missed.
“Alma allowed me to feel comfortable being myself and meet people who would forever impact my life,” says Kattula.
