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Travis Ashley

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General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Karate
  • Hiking And Backpacking
  • Construction

Reading

  • medical
  • rehabilitation
  • comics
  • Science Fiction

I read books multiple times a week.

Bio

My life goals are to attend University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in Dallas, Texas to potentially become a future Occupational Therapist. As an Occupational Therapist the areas I want to specialize in are hand therapy (e.g., upper extremity), acute rehab, and assistive technology. Within my personal statement I mentioned that after obtaining my license with future clinical fieldwork experiences that I would go back to my hometown of Gallup, NM. Within my hometown is the center of business for most southwestern Native American Tribes that receive most of their medical care at Gallup Indian Medical Center. What drives me to continue my education even after completing my Masters Degree from Logan University School of Chiropractic & Health Sciences is giving back to my community and helping the underserved even at smaller Indian Health Service clinics. An example of my commitment is when searching for Occupational Therapists to learn from in observational hours it was bit of a challenge because I was referred out 70 miles and more to other Therapists who accepted me as their students virtually during Covid-19. With proper communication I was able to obtain important knowledge, critical research skills, and learning about what paths I could go into within the OT field. In the future if the younger generation need an mentor within the OT field anywhere near my hometown of Gallup, NM or if I travel to smaller American Indian communities within the US, I will be that resource they can utilize for guidance in the rehabilitation, clinical fitness, or athletic performance.

Education

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

2022 – 2024

Majors:
  • Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, General

Logan University

Master's degree program

2019 – 2020

Majors:
  • Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, General
  • Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Bachelor's degree program

2015 – 2019

Majors:
  • Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
  • Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
Minors:
  • Psychology, General

University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus

Associate's degree program

2010 – 2014

Majors:
  • Fire Protection
  • Education, General

Miscellaneous

Medical school interest:
No

Career

  • Independent Study/Lab Assistant

    Education · New Mexico State University: Kinesiology Department

    Jan 2018 – Jan 2018

  • Caretaker Home Health for Father

    Hospital & Health Care · Volunteer Home Health Post-Stroke

    Jan 2019 – Present

  • Undergrad Rehab Intern

    Hospital & Health Care · Therapy MOBZ Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy

    Jan 2019 – Jan 2019

  • Volunteer Strength & Conditioning Specialist

    Health, Wellness, and Fitness · Gallup High School Strength & Conditioning

    Jan 2019 – Jan 2020

  • Graduate Rehab Intern

    Hospital & Health Care · Therapy MOBZ Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy

    Jan 2020 – Jan 2020

  • Graduate Strength & Conditioning Intern

    Health, Wellness, and Fitness · The Performance Ranch

    Jan 2020 – Jan 2020

  • Fitness/Wellness Specialist

    Hospital & Health Care · Northern Navajo Medical Center

    Jan 2022 – Jan 2022

  • Rehab Clinic Technician

    Hospital & Health Care · Tsehootsooi Medical Center

    Jan 2021 – Jan 2021

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Medical Practice
Dream career goals:
Leader, First Navajo Occupational Therapist, Company Founder in Clinical Fitness in Hometown
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Politics
  • Volunteering
  • Entrepreneurship
Chaweka Lynn Fisher Memorial Scholarship
Just recently a month ago I was talking to my mother about the past. My mother is originally from the eastern border of the Navajo Nation reservation in very small communities that may have less than fifty families in one Chapter House area. We often make frequent trips back to Pueblo Pintado, NM to either improve the infrastructure of the hogan, continue the process of building the wooden fence, or haul water to irrigate the trees we are growing. My uncle used to live there, it was a long process of hauling construction materials to build him his first home and for many years he was homeless. Just a year after he finished his hogan, sadly he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and later on within that same year he was gone. My mother took care of her brother just like we did with my grandfather while I was in high school. As I begin to build a stronger connection to my mothers side of the family over the years I soon realize that I need to know the background of who I am. Honestly in any Native American culture we have the ability and personal decision to take care of family. I'm sure in other essays students may talk about tradition, culture, language, art, but what is most important is giving back to family even if its just a day to many years. That one thing my parents did for there parents in being a caretaker, and I've decided to follow those same foot steps. Among my closests friends I'm the oldest one who a lot of times put my dreams and ambitions aside to be there for my family in their lowest moments of their life. Most importantly I believe that is why I am blessed to make it this far in my education is my family teachings of giving back. So why is giving back so important? Its very simple, even just giving a little at a time will add up to more opportunities in the future. Going back to the story of my grandfather he was a lifelong employee with Pacific Union working on the railroad while his three children and wife were at home nearby Pueblo Pintado, NM. My grandfather's father owned a lot of scattered areas of land so the family would often live in one area for a period of time and move. Ideally they were all nearby areas in somewhat close proximities to one another. So a month ago, I asked my mom, "Mom you always told me that you and your siblings would herd sheep all day and everyday. Exactly how did the family accumulated the hundreds of sheep?" My mom replied: Grandpa would often help others who paid him in sheep by giving the livestock in return. Over time those sheep grew in large numbers which made the task for the children to take the challenge of being a caretaker for them in a way. My grandpa always knew that investments over time will be needed for family in the future. After my mothers mom passed away a few years after highschool graduation, the children sold all of the sheep to start a new life on their own. My mom eventually became a nurse. My grandpa also saved money for me to start community college which is now a doctorate program in occupational therapy. I kept a promise to my grandfather, and a lot of younger generation make their own decisions and rarely listen to their elders. Ever since I was born I always had an open heart.
Travis Ashley Student Profile | Bold.org