10/1/2013

To whom it may concern,

It is my pleasure to write a letter of recommendation on behalf of Joelle Atkinson.
Joelle was my student in Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II. These are notoriously
difficult courses that include lab sections. (Indeed, approximately 20% of the students
that enter the Human A&P course series do not finish the first semester with a passing
grade.) Joelles performance was very strong in both the lecture and lab portions of the
Human A&P courses. She received a B+ in the fall, and an A- in the spring. She
accomplished this while also taking Physics, Abnormal Psych, Child Development, and
an upper-level course on Poverty and Society, among others. Her GPA for these 2
semesters was 3.464. In addition, Joelles attendance was perfect, she was very
organized, she attended the review sessions, and she turned in all her work on time.
In addition to her academic qualifications, Ms. Atkinson also has excellent
extracurricular experience. She has been a volunteer for the Gift of Life Donor Program,
and Camp Chihopi, UPMC. She has work experience, leadership experience, and has
held 3 different internships. She has received numerous awards and honors, including
being named to the Deans List, selected for the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and
receiving a Deans Scholarship. She is also CPR certified. Of greater interest here, she
has completed nearly 100 hours of Occupational Therapy observation.
Joelle has strong educational qualifications, as well as extracurricular and
leadership experiences to bring to the table. She overcame great difficulties as a child,
practically living in a hospital setting. She understands in a deep and fundamental way
what it is like to work in a health care profession. Given her maturity, intellectual ability,
and life history, I have every confidence that she will succeed in an Occupational Therapy
program. I highly recommend her.
Sincerely,
Dr. David K. Merwine, Ph.D.