Belmont alumna Kimberly Lowe Breeden was first inspired to enter the occupational therapy field as a high school tutor teaching literacy to older adults. “I loved the opportunity to teach in a one-on-one situation where I could develop a relationship with those I tutored,” she said. “I realized I learned more from my students than they did from me. It was so gratifying to see how learning to read changed their lives.”
Shortly after discovering this passion, during her first year of college as an accounting major, Breeden met an occupational therapy assistant who helped her realize that it had the potential to be more than just a volunteer opportunity—but a career. Upon exposure to the field of occupational therapy, she changed her major and the rest is history. Breeden remains grateful that she was at the right place at the right time. “Occupational therapy not only recognizes but celebrates each human being as a unique individual who deserves to be valued and supported to live the purpose they want for their own lives.”
Upon completing her undergraduate degree, Breeden decided to attend Belmont for her graduate education after working alongside alumni from the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) and Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) programs who she admired greatly. “I applied to just one graduate program—Belmont’s MSOT bridge program, and was honored upon my acceptance,” she said.
Reflecting on her time at Belmont, Breeden expressed that the program changed the trajectory of her career and was the catalyst for her falling in love with occupational therapy again. She credits Belmont for her ability to impact her profession through her education. “Upon re-entering the field, I felt well-prepared for the challenges faced in the field while practicing,” she said.
Breeden is a champion for Belmont’s strength in providing a foundation in occupation-based practice, professional reasoning and most of all, leadership. “Belmont prepared me to be an innovator and to identify needs within populations while developing new ways to meet those needs,” she noted. “Belmont well prepares students to meet the needs the future will bring.”
Upon graduation from Belmont’s MSOT program, Breeden ambitiously began work creating an occupational therapy chronic pain program with Niccole Rowe, BA, COTA and co-founding Aspire OT, a private outpatient pain clinic where she serves as Lead Occupational Therapist. Breeden and Rowe published two continuing education articles for OT Practice Magazine during their program's developmental period. The pair was awarded the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) Terry Brittell OTA/OT Partnership Award in 2018 for their collaboration in pain management.
In 2019, the duo founded Aspire OT, an occupational therapy continuing education company. Aspire OT created the State Association Partnership Program in 2020, which provides opportunities for seven state occupational therapy associations to provide online continuing education courses for members. Breeden noted that the first state partner for Aspire OT was the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association. In 2020, Breeden, alongside Rowe co-authored the AOTA Official Position Statement “Role of Occupational Therapy in Pain Management.”
Looking back on her time as a student, Breeden highlighted Belmont’s preparation of students to carry out best practices and to be leaders in the profession—especially in instances when those are not always carried out in the field by other practitioners. She advised, “Don’t let that impact your confidence. Be the agent for change and trust the training you received from Belmont. The future of our profession depends on you using your knowledge, not conforming to the status quo.”