Conversations with Sharniece Pierce

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharniece Pierce.

Sharniece, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in St. Louis, MO. My fondest memories as a child were watching my mom and sister pave the way in the healthcare field as nurses. They had a powerful influence on me, and I always knew that I would end up in healthcare. Growing up, I excelled as a student-athlete and I accepted a scholarship to play college basketball at Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU) and received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Exercise Science and Athletic Training. During my time at KWU, I received my certification in personal training, but I knew I wanted to become an Occupational Therapist; it was my calling. Creighton University was a destination place to attend school because I wanted to be in an environment where I could continue to grow spiritually and professionally. I also had an amazing opportunity to learn from the strength coach on campus, which enabled me to develop a deeper understanding of musculoskeletal injuries and sports medicine.

In 2016, I received my Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Upon graduating, I knew I wanted to combine my passion for musculoskeletal rehabilitation and Occupational Therapy to specialize in hand therapy. In its simplest form, hand therapy is evaluating and treating complex upper extremity injuries that occur in the shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand. Hand therapy is a really hard field to enter at any point in your career, but I knew that the faculty at Creighton had provided a firm foundation for my clinical and critical thinking skills which would allow me to challenge the status quo. I truly felt as though they prepared me to specialize early in my career. One of my favorite quotes is “take advantage of the opportunity of a lifetime, and the lifetime of that opportunity”. An opportunity presented itself in Phoenix, AZ and I stepped out on faith and moved from the Midwest to start my career in hand therapy.

Today, I work in an outpatient ortho clinic where I’m the only Occupational Therapist in the building and I specialize in hand therapy. I hit the ground running early and took a lot of continuing education courses and sought mentorship, this helped me hone in on my clinical skills and helped develop my “outside the box” treatment approach. My approach to patient care and intervention is unique. My willingness to challenge the status quo has allowed me the ability to present new treatment ideas, concepts, mobilization techniques, and effective exercise implementation into my patient’s care.

Outside of the clinic, I’m also an educator both in the classroom and on social media. I have a growing social media page where I post educational videos for patients, students, and healthcare professionals. I’m dedicated to educating future leaders within the profession and progressing the field of Occupational Therapy. My overall motivation is to progress the profession and break down the barriers that are present. Occupational Therapy as a profession is less than 5% African American, those that specialize in hand therapy are less than 1%. I represent things that are way bigger than myself, and I keep that at the forefront of my endeavors. Most recently, I received the Occupational Therapist of the Year Award from the Arizona Occupational Therapy Association. I have been fortunate to have many people in my life that have helped me and encouraged me to find my passion, and I’m forever thankful for the opportunities that have come my way.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey has not been easy, but I believe that destiny separates you and the ability to embrace the limitation will make you better in the long run. Along the way, there have been a lot of naysayers, but ultimately, I kept my eyes on prize and persevered. Another lesson that I have learned is to be selective about the opportunities that I take. I have a really strong work ethic and, in the past, I’ve taken on too much or gone for opportunities that didn’t align with my long-term goals. I’m learning to embrace the journey and trust the process. The biggest lesson that I learned is: your gift will make room for you, and you have to trust God’s timing over your life. Through it all, I have been very fortunate to have a great support system, great mentors, and above all: FAITH IN GOD.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @drpierce_handtherapy

Image Credits
Headshot: Dana Hazlett