Occupational Therapist Madison Kleinschmidt shares how the University of South Dakota Occupational Therapy Program prepared her to make a meaningful impact on rural communities across South Dakota.
Using the skills and experiences she developed through the University of South Dakota’s School of Health Sciences’ Department of Occupational Therapy Program, Madison Kleinschmidt, a 2021 and 2018 University of South Dakota graduate, serves patients at Avera-Hand County Memorial Hospital in Miller, South Dakota, and Avera Therapy in Highmore, South Dakota.
During graduate school, Kleinschmidt worked in rural communities to better understand the differences between rural and urban healthcare settings. One experience that stood out to her was visiting an adapted farm, where she realized how important it is for graduates to return to smaller communities and bring valuable resources and knowledge to areas of the state that do not have the same access to healthcare.
“You have to take what you learn and bring it back to the rural area because most of these communities aren’t well-equipped,” Kleinschmidt said.
That perspective continues to shape her work as an occupational therapist. She focuses on helping individuals return to normal activities after an injury, a diagnosis or other challenges that affect their ability to complete everyday tasks. In addition to helping patients regain independence, occupational therapists assist with activities of daily living, including tasks such as getting dressed, bathing and brushing their teeth. Kleinschmidt explained that those are the responsibilities many people take for granted, but some individuals simply need additional support to complete them.
Another realization Kleinschmidt had while working in a rural community was how much creativity the role requires. Limited resources often force providers to think differently and adapt to new situations.
“I simulate different scenarios that I may not have the resources to practice every day, making no day the same,” Kleinschmidt said. “It keeps things interesting and has built a sense of autonomy that I get to have in the area because I am the only Occupational Therapist out here.”
Beyond her professional role, Kleinschmidt also found a strong sense of community in rural healthcare. Working in a smaller community allowed her to build deeper relationships with both patients and coworkers.
“I absolutely love how I can build stronger patient relationships with individuals in my community,” she said, adding that her coworkers and patients “make it really easy to come to work and be around everyone, they all feel more like family than anything else.”
Kleinschmidt encourages current University of South Dakota students to remain flexible and open to different healthcare environments throughout their careers and explained that OT students can work across schools, hospitals, nursing homes and other settings throughout their careers so they should take every opportunity to explore different settings and determine which best suits them. She also emphasized the importance of remaining a lifelong learner, especially in rural communities where healthcare professionals encounter a broad range of diagnoses and conditions.
"USD’s Health Sciences major set me up for success,” Kleinschmidt said. “It was a great steppingstone to learn about a broad spectrum of professions and led me into OT. Graduate school also set me up for success being the only occupational therapist in my rural area that does what I do.”
As rural communities continue to overcome healthcare workforce shortages, graduates like Kleinschmidt are helping bridge the gap. Through hands-on learning and community-based experiences, the University of South Dakota’s Occupational Therapy Program is preparing students to make a lasting impact across the state.
