Long before coming to Johns Hopkins Hospital, Juliana Looney didn’t know exactly what occupational therapy was. Like many students, she discovered it by accident.
“I always knew I wanted to be in the medical field,” she said. “But when I started shadowing OT, I realized how important it is and how overlooked it can be.”
During her undergraduate years, while nannying a young girl with Down syndrome, Looney found herself helping the child build independence in everyday tasks. It was hands-on, personal work that would later define her career.
“I was helping her learn how to take care of herself,” Looney said. “Then I learned that’s literally what OT is. I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I did that. And I loved doing that.’”
That experience led her to Temple University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, where she was part of the inaugural cohort.
“What stood out about Temple was the community focus and the chance to get my teaching certificate,” she said. “I wanted to get everything I could out of the program.”
She also credits Temple’s fieldwork opportunities with helping her find her footing.
“The best learning I had was out in the field,” she said. “It helped me figure out where I fit.”
Now working in neurology, Looney treats patients facing complex conditions, including traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.
“You never really know what to expect,” she said. “Two patients with similar diagnoses can present completely differently.”
It’s work that’s both challenging and deeply human. Looney regularly supports patients and families navigating sudden, life-altering diagnoses.
“You see how quickly someone’s life can change,” she said. “But I get to be the person who helps them focus on getting back to their independence, and that makes it worth it.”
That perspective reflects what drew her to occupational therapy in the first place.
“We’re one of the only fields that really asks, ‘What do you want your life to look like from here?’” she said.
Looking ahead, Looney hopes to continue growing as a clinician while advocating for the profession she’s come to value.
“I feel really lucky to be doing something I love,” she said. “And I’m excited to keep showing people what occupational therapy can do.”