Professors Dance with the Stars for Butterfly House
Professors Dance with the Stars for Butterfly House
On Sept. 9, two professors in 黑料专区鈥檚 Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program looked ready for Carnival of Brazil, having donned colorful tight pants and tops adorned with feathers.
Dr. Paula Graham and Dr. Crystal Gaddy, also MSOT鈥檚 Program Director, showcased their samba skills as a duo in the annual fundraiser that benefits the of Atrium Health Stanly. As is the case with the 鈥淒ancing鈥� shows on television, the professors aimed to win over a panel of three judges who would eventually pick a winning act.
鈥淲e鈥檙e always telling our students that they have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable,鈥� Graham said before she and Gaddy appeared in the 鈥淒ancing鈥� presentation, which took place at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center. 鈥淲e鈥檙e leading here. We鈥檙e leading the way.鈥�
Discomfort was not apparent when Graham, a enthusiast, and Gaddy, who often makes Zumba a part of her exercise routine, executed steps with precision and energy. Maddie Cook 鈥�23 MSOT had choreographed the duo鈥檚 routine, drawing on her experience as a dance professional. Gaddy and Graham, also MSOT鈥檚 Community Clinic Coordinator and Lab Assistant, praised Cook for empowering them with positive feedback during rehearsals.
The Graham-Gaddy duo moved to the catchy music of a Portuguese-language pop tune as pictures of Rio De Janiero flashed on a large screen behind them. All this was in keeping with 鈥淐ome Fly with Me,鈥� the theme of the 2023 鈥淪tanly County Dancing with the Stars鈥� presentation, in which contestants sought to transport the audience to distant places.
鈥淚 do like to dance,鈥� Gaddy said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of my hobbies I do when I鈥檓 not teaching and directing the OT program. I said, 鈥榃hy not?鈥� We also helped raise awareness of the OT program at Pfeiffer and the role it plays in Stanly County.鈥�
Gaddy and Graham鈥檚 participation in 鈥淒ancing with the Stars鈥� sparked a hoped-for servant leadership among the OT students, who sponsored the Gaddy-Graham team by raising over $350 in its name. That was the largest share of the $2,000 in total sponsorship money raised for the duo.
Pfeiffer鈥檚 appearance in 鈥淒ancing with the Stars鈥� underscores the closer ties that its MSOT program is forging with Butterfly House. It is Gaddy鈥檚 aim to formalize an arrangement that would enable Pfeiffer鈥檚 MSOT students to engage in fieldwork there.
鈥淭he students will learn how they can advocate for and serve children who have experienced adverse situations,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檒l also educate Butterfly House鈥檚 stakeholders on the role that OT can play in healing these children and returning them to lives of normalcy.鈥�