Occupational Therapy
Alumni News
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When Ashley (Stokes) Kinton, MSOT ‘20, was in high school, she witnessed first-hand the benefits of occupational therapy (OT). Her grandmother was suffering from Parkinson’s disease and the grandmother’s walker wouldn’t fit through the bathroom door.
“One of the biggest things the OT did was suggest we take the wheels off the outside of the walker and put them on the inside and then it would fit through the doorway,” said Kinton. “This lightbulb just came on for me- that’s how I first learned about OT.”
Originally from northern Indiana, Kinton graduated from Purdue University with a degree in movement and sports sciences. She met her husband, Garrett Kinton, who was in the Air Force ROTC while attending Purdue. Upon being stationed in Wyoming, the couple set out for the Northwest. The only OT school within driving distance was Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, but distance wasn’t the only challenge. The university’s OT program had more than 700 applicants for 50 spots, which was competitive.
However, soon thereafter, Garrett was transferred to an Air Force base in New Jersey and Kinton secured an interview for the OT program at Salus University.
“We literally moved from Wyoming to New Jersey on a Sunday and my interview with Salus was the next day,” she said. “I remember Andrea Tsyzka, OTD, MSOT ‘18, OTR/L, SIPT (Salus faculty member) asked me how she could remember me because she was interviewing so many people that day. I said I just moved from Wyoming yesterday.”
She found out later that week she was accepted. “I love that Salus had an interview process so you got to meet the faculty, they got to meet you and see you as a person instead of an applicant number, and they had rolling admissions at the time so you weren’t applying and then waiting months for an answer. The whole experience was just so nice,” she said.
Kinton said one of the most important lessons she learned in the Salus OT program was how to effectively problem-solve and prioritize the patient’s basic needs.
Her educational experience laid the groundwork for her current work. Upon graduation, another military transfer landed the couple in Florida in 2020, where Kinton was able to work in pediatrics OT. In 2021, Garrett left active duty, allowing them to finally return home to Indiana.
He has gone back to school for nursing while she has settled at the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center in Indianapolis. There, she makes a lot of splints and treats wound care, helping patients regain their motion and strength. The center has 12 surgeons specializing in upper extremities; more than 20 OTs; treats everything from carpal tunnel syndrome to complex traumas like blast injuries, amputations, and complex fractures; and is the largest hand center in the U.S.
“I never realized how intricate the hand is. And, how many things have to go right for you to be able to use your hands normally,” said Kinton. “I love how you can measure progress from visit to visit - it’s so personal, almost intimate. One of the biggest parts of my job is talking to people, letting them know what we’re going to do, explaining to them what we’re going to do so they can feel more confident and not so scared.”
The couple had their first child, daughter Ruby, five months ago. They also have a Bernese Mountain Dog named Betsy Ross. And, when she gets some spare time, Kinton likes to garden.
Eventually, she’d like to become a certified hand therapist, which requires 4,000 hours of direct practice experience, three years of experience as a practitioner, and another board exam.
“I think once the baby gets a little more independent, I’ll want another challenge and I think that’s going to be it,” she said.
