Rebekah Chastain is an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Department at Milligan University, where she teaches courses in Biomechanical Functioning and Occupational Performance, Psychosocial Influences on Occupation, Adult Orthopedic Rehabilitation, and Occupational Therapy with Older Adults. As the faculty lead for the OT social media team, Rebekah is passionate about engaging the community and promoting the department’s work. She looks forward to guiding research and teaching electives in the near future.

Rebekah’s research interests include holistic hospice care, suicide awareness training for healthcare workers, and the potential of 3D printing in splinting. Recently, she coordinated the creation of a “scrub shop” for OT students, providing gently used scrubs donated by local healthcare workers to help offset the costs of fieldwork. Rebekah’s previous work in the local hospital system allowed her to mentor prospective OT students, offering shadowing opportunities and firsthand exposure to the impact of occupational therapy in patient care.

Rebekah’s favorite part of serving at Milligan is the deep sense of community and individualized attention that faculty and staff offer students. She values being part of an environment where students are seen holistically, and their struggles and victories are shared with compassion and care. For Rebekah, helping students grow both academically and personally in a Christ-centered atmosphere is a true privilege.

Education
BS, Human Health (Psychology minor), East Tennessee State University
MS, Occupational Therapy, Milligan College

“Growing up in a loving, Christian home, meant that God and faith were always present in my life, but it was not until my son was born that that faith was made real and raw. Through a traumatic and dramatic birth my son came into this world. It is God’s miracle that we are both here and healthy, but the path was not always easy or certain. Through the journey, God opened up a line of communication through prayer and Bible study that was more real and personal than I had ever experienced before. I distinctively remember a moment after a difficult doctor’s appointment, sitting in my car alone crying out to God for answers, peace, anything. I said every word I was feeling. There was no holding back. I wish I could say that a hand opened up and writing appeared in the sky, or I heard a mighty voice that solved everything. Wouldn’t that have been cool? But, in that moment there was nothing, stillness, quiet. The answer would come months later following yet another medical procedure when a wave of peace came over me in what could only be described as the Holy Spirit. In that moment, there was no denying it. God had been there before, he was there then, and he would be there always. God honors our honesty. That chapter of my life opened up a new prayer journey that became much more of an open line of communication than it had ever been before. It is something I strive to teach my son, model for those around me, and now pass to my occupational therapy students as they prepare to navigate the health care world through the eyes of Christ.”