Bria Pope is a 24-year-old doctoral student in Occupational Therapy whose journey has come full circle. As a baby and young child, she received home nursing care from BAYADA Pediatrics. Now, she is working toward a career where she can help others.
We sat down with Bria to talk about her experiences—how life, family, career, and inclusion have shaped her along the way.
- Can you tell us about your childhood?
Bria: I was born and raised in South Jersey. I was born 1 pound, 4 ounces at 28 weeks (three months premature). A couple days later, I contracted RSV (respiratory syncytial virus, which can cause serious infection in newborns), and I had to be placed on an emergency ventilator and got a tracheostomy. I was in the hospital from November 2000 to June 2001. I had my trach until I was about six years old and received nutrition through a tube. I had to learn sign language because I wasn't able to verbally communicate. I continued to receive care from BAYADA even after my trach was removed. I was too young to remember my nurses, but I have a vague memory of looking forward to their visits.
And I had lots of surgeries. To this day, I don't know how many surgeries, but about 30.
After I had my trach out at age six, I learned to speak verbally with the help of a speech therapist and went to school like any other kid—elementary school, middle school, high school. I went to Stockton University in New Jersey for my undergrad. I majored in Health Science with a pre-concentration in Occupational Therapy and a minor in Disability Studies. Now I am a second-year doctoral student in the Occupational Therapy program at Cedar Creek College in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
- What is your family like?
Bria: My dad is a machinist who is also self-employed. He taught me about confidence and believing in yourself.
My mom is a real estate broker with her own business. She taught me how to be successful, especially as a Black woman—how to work hard beyond just "do the best that you can do."
My family—just everybody, both siblings and parents—is very supportive. They made my life growing up easier because I was shy, and so they comforted me in ways that made me feel appreciated. I have so many happy childhood memories. Spending time with family and friends, having sleepovers at my house, stuff like that.
- Why did you decide to become an occupational therapist?
Bria: I discovered the career of OT when I was looking at schools. I'm a first-generation college student, so I didn't really know how picking the college major works.
I chose Psychology, but there was a paper in the academic advising office that told you about different jobs, and occupational therapy was one of them. I looked into it and afterwards, I wanted to be an OT!
4. What are some favorite moments in your training so far?
Bria: I took a class on Exercise and Nutrition for IDD (intellectual and developmental disabilities). That class allowed you to interact with people who had intellectual or developmental disabilities, and you were able to work with them—exercise with them and play games with them like sports, and I really liked that. It was fun to just interact and communicate with people.
In my grad program, I took a class called Special Topics in Occupational Therapy: basically, looking at nontraditional ways that OT can be implemented, like helping people with developmental disabilities get employed, or looking at how horses can help people who have sensory needs, or advocating for people who need help. I thought, "This is worth it." I like how we can work in traditional settings but also do things that are different. So that's a moment when I felt, "I made it. I'm glad I chose this career."
- Who are your female role models?
Bria: I know it's cliché, but I'm going to say my mom because she worked very, very hard for me —not just for me as a mom, but worked hard for herself, and worked hard for my family. She's just really a good mom and I really appreciate her. I'm very grateful that she has helped me out in life. Just to see her being an entrepreneur—I wasn't born when she was running all her businesses, but just knowing that she owned multiple businesses back in the day and she is still in the entrepreneur space—that's inspiring.
- Here’s a fun question. If you were having a dinner party, who would be your top three party guests?
Bria: I'm going to go with celebrities. I'd invite Issa Rae, Zendaya, and Beyoncé. I like Zendaya because of her acting. Beyoncé, I like her performances. I admire Issa Rae because she's a businesswoman with multiple businesses. She's working hard to open doors for other Black women to succeed in the entertainment and film industry.
- What are your hopes for the future of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace? Obviously, it's under attack right now.
Bria: That's an important question. I would hope, prayerfully, that the world would understand that everybody regardless of their race, regardless of their gender, regardless of their disabilities or abilities—that everyone deserves a seat at the table. So let's keep fighting for it and keep pushing for it even though, like you said, it's under attack. Just keep going and know that it is going to pay off someday.
It's important because speaking as a Black female who is from an underrepresented group, we don't really see ourselves. For example, in the occupational therapy field there aren't a lot of Black people (note: only 4.8 percent of US occupational therapists are Black). So people are going to see us treat other African Americans, and that may encourage a lot more people of color to come into the OT field and become therapists. I hope this will contribute to ending the health disparities against Black people. That's one reason that diversity and inclusion are important.
9. What is a book or movie that inspired you?
Bria: I loved Hidden Figures with Taraji P. Henson.- Do you have a motto?
Bria: I don't have a motto, but I'm going to make one up! My motto is to work hard, live life, and be happy.
- That's a good motto. Is there anything else you'd like to say to others in this season of Women’s History Month and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month?
Bria: My advice is to keep fighting. There is a seat at the table for you—or you build your own table. Do what you gotta do to put yourself out there. Have fun, don't burn out, and stand up for yourself. Stay true to who you are.
BAYADA: Thank you for speaking with us, Bria. We’re thrilled to have played a role in your story!
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