Meet the students from the College of Public Health and Health Professions, a diverse group dedicated to improving health and well-being in communities around the world. These students come from various backgrounds, united by their passion for health and their commitment to making a positive impact. They bring unique perspectives and experiences to their studies, preparing to become the next generation of health professionals who will address pressing health challenges and advance their field.
Meet: Liliana Salazar
Program: Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Hometown: from Colombia, now Gainesville.
Educational background: Psychology undergraduate in Colombia, which included an internship in neuropsychology. I have worked in multiple areas such as research, registered behavior technician, neuropsychology technician (in Colombia and Gainesville).
Why did you decide to join your program?
I decided to join my OT program because I have always been passionate about working in health services, especially in the area of neuropsychology. However, over time, I realized that I wanted to do more than assess or understand diagnoses; I wanted to provide hands-on interventions and make a direct, meaningful impact on people’s everyday lives.
As I started volunteering and learning more about occupational therapy, since at first I didn’t fully understand what OTs truly did, I discovered a profession that aligned perfectly with what I was looking for. I’ve always loved working with children, but I also enjoy working with adults and supporting their cognitive needs. I wanted a career that would allow me to do both at different stages of my life.
Most importantly, I was looking for a field that views people holistically. While I’m deeply interested in the brain and neuropsychology, I didn’t want to limit my practice to just one aspect of a person. OT allows me to look at each individual’s context, environment and functional abilities. I believe this whole-person perspective creates the greatest impact in people’s lives, and that’s ultimately what drew me to OT.
What have been some of your favorite moments in your program?
I’ve had so many favorite moments throughout the OT program that it’s hard to choose just one. Some of the most memorable experiences have come from the creative and highly functional classes we’ve had. For example, going to Lake Wauburg to learn about leisure activities for individuals with physical disabilities, participating in hands-on sessions with the driving rehabilitation program, and simulating physical disabilities in class while completing different tasks and activities of daily living. I also really enjoyed our various labs, working with real cadavers and brains, practicing wheelchair use and community mobility on campus, and developing leadership skills through interactive activities. Our instructors truly make an effort to create impactful learning opportunities. They incorporate kinesthetic, visual and real-world elements that make the learning experience more meaningful and practical, while still learning evidence-based practice.
Another major highlight has been my fieldworks and my capstone experience. I’ve been fortunate to work in different types of settings with a variety of populations, and each placement has taught me so many unique and fundamental aspects. Having this range of experiences has shown me how strong and well-rounded the UF OT program truly is.
Overall, UF OT has given me an incredible number of wonderful experiences. It’s difficult to pick just one favorite moment, I’m simply grateful for all the opportunities I have been part of.
Tell us about your capstone work.
During the final semester of the OTD program, I completed my capstone, which includes two major components: the capstone experience and the capstone project. My capstone experience took place at the Early Childhood Collaboratory preschool, where I developed community-based, clinical and leadership OT skills. I worked with children who could benefit from occupational therapy services and collaborated closely with my site mentors to provide one-on-one and small-group interventions. This allowed me to practice clinical reasoning, communication and treatment skills within a real preschool environment.
For my capstone project, I designed and implemented a comprehensive program focused on promoting executive function development in preschoolers ages 3 to 5 across the three centers. The program included:
- Developmentally appropriate group activities grounded in the latest research
- Teacher workshops to educate staff on executive function, how it develops and evidence-based strategies
- A parent workshop to support carryover at home
- Handouts, materials and classroom demonstrations to integrate executive function practices into everyday routines
The main interventions I implemented were based on the strongest current evidence and included mindfulness, fantastical pretend play and brain-play games. One of the activities I designed was “Sort the Buttons,” where children categorize buttons by shape, color or size using small paper “houses.” This activity promotes inhibition, cognitive flexibility, planning and working memory. Teachers appreciated seeing the activities modeled in their classrooms, as it helped them integrate executive function strategies into their curriculum and daily interactions with the children.
My capstone experience has been incredibly valuable in preparing me for the next stage of my career. Although I had previous experience working with children, I had never worked in a preschool setting. This opportunity helped me learn what it truly means to work within a community environment, collaborate with teachers and families and support children’s developmental needs in a naturalistic context.
This experience is directly relevant to my next career step, working in outpatient pediatrics. Being immersed in the Early Childhood Collaboratory has given me a deeper understanding of child development, early intervention, and the functional needs of young children. It has strengthened my ability to observe, assess and plan interventions with a broader, more holistic and realistic lens that I will bring into my future practice.
Additionally, designing this executive function program enhanced my skills in cognition, program development, research application and leadership. These skills will be essential as I pursue one of my long-term goals: contributing to community-based projects in Colombia to support local needs and promote meaningful, sustainable change.
Overall, my capstone provided hands-on experience, expanded my clinical and community practice skills, and strengthened my confidence as I transition into the workforce.
What would you like to share with others who may be considering the same program?
Occupational therapy is a meaningful, joyful and impactful career. It allows you to truly make a difference in people’s lives by helping them engage in what matters most to them. One of the greatest strengths of OT is its versatility — you can work in many different settings, serve a wide range of populations, specialize in areas you’re passionate about, and approach people from a holistic, functional perspective.
The OT program at UF is exceptional. The faculty genuinely strives to provide the best learning opportunities for students. They teach using evidence-based practice, up-to-date literature and real-world applications. Beyond the core skills expected in any accredited program, UF also emphasizes leadership, professionalism and strong clinical reasoning. The instructors model these qualities in their own careers, which makes the learning experience even more meaningful.
The program offers incredible lab and hands-on experiences, high-quality fieldwork and capstone placements, and consistent support for student growth. Faculty members actively seek out student perspectives and continuously work to enhance the program. We also receive strong training in research skills, which helps us understand, interpret and apply the latest literature to guide our practice, which is a lifelong key professional skill to continue building.
UF OT not only prepares you to meet the standards of the profession, it prepares you for the real world, both immediately after graduation and in your long-term career goals. In fact, I already secured a job before graduation without actively searching, which speaks to the strong reputation of the program and the quality of teachers.
For anyone considering this program, I truly believe UF OT provides an outstanding foundation for a fulfilling and impactful career.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love spending quality time with my two children, who are 10 and 7. We enjoy playing games, having movie nights and spending time outdoors together. Tennis has always been my favorite sport; I grew up playing it, and it continues to be my favorite way to stay active.
I also value time with my extended family. Some of my relatives live outside the United States in Colombia and Australia, and my brothers live in Orlando. Whenever I have the opportunity, I enjoy visiting them and spending time with their families. Family is very important to me, and staying connected brings me a lot of joy.
I also enjoy watching a good movie and spending time with my friends.
Want to learn more?
Learn more about the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program.
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