Virtual Mentor

An Interview With...

Winifred (Winnie) Dunn, PhD, OTR, FAOTA
Professor /Chairperson
Occupational Therapy Education

Recipient of the:

1. William T. Kemper Fellowship For Teaching Excellence, 2004
2. Chancellors Distinguished Teaching Award, 1991
3. Faculty Research Investigator Awards, 1989

WHAT IS YOUR HOMETOWN?
The area is now called Florissant, Missouri [part of greater St. Louis]… it was called "Route 1, Box 72" a when I lived there.

WHEN DID YOU JOIN THE KUSOM FACULTY?
I am a proud member of the KU School of Allied Health faculty. I joined the faculty in 1986.

HOW/WHEN DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN SCIENCE AND MEDICINE?
I am an occupational therapist and special educator by my initial training. I was interested in working with children who had special needs at school. I found out that many of the questions I had about practicing the profession had not been addressed in the literature, so I set out to find out some things myself.

IS THERE A TEACHER OR MENTOR WHO HELPED SHAPE YOUR CAREER?
One of my first principals in the public schools where I worked as an occupational therapist and special educator was an inspiration to me: Manley Vance. He taught me that it was OK to question things, and to find out better ways to serve children.

HOW OR WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE KU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE?
I chose the School of Allied Health. KU is one of the oldest schools of Occupational Therapy in the country and so had a strong tradition.

WHAT KINDS OF PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OR ADVANTAGES DOES BEING A FACULTY MEMBER AT KUSOM PROVIDE? WHAT ABOUT CHALLENGES?
I am a faculty member in the School of Allied Health faculty. KU provides an open and willing place for discovery and knowledge development.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS?
I am interested in the best ways to serve children, their families and their teachers.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OUTSIDE INTERESTS?
I garden, cook, do yoga, read and cross stitch.

IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU ENGAGED WITH THE GREATER KANSAS PUBLIC?
I serve as a board member of the Legacy Society of the Unity Temple on the Plaza.

DO YOU HAVE AN INSIGHT OR PHILOSOPHY THAT GUIDES YOU IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL WORK?
Make sure things are better for you having been there.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT THE WORLD (OR THE WORLD OF MEDICINE/SCIENCE), WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Diversity would be cherished.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE YOU'VE EXPERIENCED IN YOUR FIELD SINCE YOU WERE A STUDENT?
Therapists are expected to base their decisions on evidence.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE?
Serving others will become a broker role, in which we support people to act on their own behalf in their health and education.

WHAT PARTICULAR SKILLS ACQUIRED DURING YOUR GRADUATE CAREER DO YOU FIND MOST VALUABLE IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER TODAY?
The ability to look at information from a variety of perspectives.

WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO:
MEDICAL STUDENTS:
Get to know what allied health professionals do…they can make you look good by serving the long term needs of your patients.

GRADUATE STUDENTS:
Finish… grad school is as much about persistence and organization as it is about thinking and knowledge development

RESIDENTS:
Listen to your patients, LISTEN… it is what the person MEANS that matters, not always what they actually say.

JUNIOR FACULTY:
If I knew then what I know now … Meet with your chair at least 2 times a semester to discuss what you need to be doing to get tenure… and do those things ONLY until you get tenure.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE KEY REASON THAT LED TO YOUR SELECTION OVER ALL OTHERS IN FOR BEING PRESENTED ONE OF THE AWARDS LISTED ABOVE?
I am a good teacher and mentor.

AS A VIRTUAL MENTOR, PLEASE OFFER YOUR ADVICE TO NEW AND/OR JUNIOR FACULTY ON A TOPIC OF YOUR CHOICE.

TOPIC 1: A Strong Beginning to the Semester
ADVICE: Remember you know more than the students

TOPIC 2: Asking for Help
ADVICE: When you ask a senior person for help and you are earnest about it, you create an advocate in that person … they want you to succeed, and this will be useful to you.

TOPIC 3: Being Turned Down, Feeling You’ve Failed (with Grants)
ADVICE: Persistence is one of the most critical traits to have as a scientist; another is being open and responsive to feedback.

TOPIC 4: Getting Better at Teaching
ADVICE: Ask someone to watch you. Work with someone to prepare your activities and materials. Go watch others.

TOPIC 5: Mindset of Chairs
ADVICE: Act as if the chair has your best interest at heart, and behave accordingly. This will change how the chair responds to you.