Member Spotlight
February Member Spotlight:
Name: Reca Barwin
Company: StoneCrest Medical Center and Peachtree Rehabilitation Facility
Position: Occupational Therapist
Education: Bachelor of Science in Biology, Belmont University, 2006; Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Belmont University, 2009
Hometown: Lebanon, Tennessee
Bio: As a Tennessee native, I knew I wanted to stay in state for college, but was unsure of where I wanted to attend. Following a preview day at Belmont, I realized it was a place that matched my personal values and had the potential to help me grow academically, personally, and spiritually. Seven years later, I feel the same as true. As an undergraduate, I explored a variety of healthcare fields before deciding on occupational therapy. I chose the field because it is incredibly versatile, encourages creativity and thinking outside the box, and the effects of treatments make a positive impact on patients that last a lifetime. As a graduate student, I had the honor of serving as a student representative to the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association (TOTA). Currently, I serve as the TOTA’s State Conference Chair. Although I grew up only 30 miles from Nashville and visited often, I have enjoyed attending school and working here in the city and making it my own. In addition to the Junior Chamber, I also enjoy advising undergraduate members of Phi Mu Women’s Fraternity at Belmont University and taking part in Phi Mu Alumnae Nashville, Belmont University Young Alumni Council, and the Country Music Marathon’s Medical Board. I also love Belmont basketball and can’t wait to attend their tournament in Georgia in March. Go Bruins!
Hobbies: I enjoying attending plays and sporting events, reading, cooking, and travel.
Job/Responsibilities: My primary responsibility is to evaluate and treat individuals for a wide variety of illnesses and disabilities. I provide care for individuals who have had anything from strokes and spinal cord injuries to dementia and developmental delay. Treatments I provide range from teaching an individual to dress themselves to educating someone on how to improve their golf swing following an injury. Additionally, I supervise occupational therapy assistants and work comprehensively with physical and speech therapy practitioners and other healthcare professionals in order to develop optimal plans of care for patients.
Goals/Aspirations: Professionally, I aspire to own my own home modification and ergonomics consulting business. Personally, I want to visit all 50 states before I’m 30 and attend both the Summer and Winter Olympics during my lifetime.
What affect has the Junior Chamber had on you: The Junior Chamber has really helped me break the “Belmont bubble” of friends and contacts that I had created for myself in Nashville. It is amazing to meet so many outstanding people who moved to our city for purposes outside of attending my alma mater. I doubt that I would have met many of the individuals I know from the chamber in any other capacity and am grateful for the opportunity to have them impact my life. Additionally, being a member of the Junior Chamber has pushed me to challenge myself professionally and increase my knowledge of business practices that I typically don’t use in my career field.
Additional Information: I had the privilege to attend the 2008 Presidential Debate and I’ve recorded a song/been in a music video with Garth Brooks and several other country music stars.
E-mail: Reca417@gmail.com