Keri DeGroot, OTD, OTR/L, has received a University of Washington Distinguished Teaching Award for her exceptional contributions to our academic community. Dr. DeGroot is an assistant teaching professor in the Division of Occupational Therapy within the UW School of Medicine Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.
“This is an incredible honor, and I am so thankful to receive this award. I learn best by observing, which means if I am being given this award, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge some incredible mentors in teaching practices that I’ve been privileged to learn from. My department mentor, Patti Matsuda, has also been a kindred spirit and has a similar teaching style and approach as me, so it’s been great to brainstorm and dream with her and learn from her in this role at UW,” says Dr. DeGroot.
Dr. DeGroot’s commitment to inclusive teaching, mentoring, valuing students’ experiences, creating transformative learning experiences and critical inquiry, and serving as a mentor, collaborator, and consultant on teaching-related matters made her the ideal candidate for this award.
“While I enjoyed clinical work as an OT, I couldn’t live without teaching other students about this incredible profession. As soon as I returned to teaching at UW, I knew I likely didn’t want to leave again. I enjoyed being surrounded by curious minds and getting to learn from amazing colleagues and my students through our work together,” adds Dr. DeGroot.
Dr. DeGroot got her start in teaching at Washington University in St. Louis. She worked there for about a decade, balancing part-time teaching and part-time clinical work. After moving to Seattle for her husband's job, she worked in skilled nursing facilities while waiting for the right opportunity at the University of Washington. That opportunity came during the pandemic when a need for more instructors and the retirement of a program director opened the door for her. Now, as a faculty member, Dr. DeGroot emphasizes clinical reasoning and problem-solving in her teaching, encouraging students to embrace the complexity behind patient care.
Dr. DeGroot has consistently demonstrated an unwavering dedication to advancing student learning with innovative, inclusive, and impactful teaching that has inspired students. To her colleagues, Dr. DeGroot is an advocate for inclusivity who works diligently to create a classroom environment that values and respects each student’s background and experiences.
“She actively incorporates diverse perspectives into the curriculum, bringing guests with lived experience with the conditions they cover in class to speak to students. Additionally, Keri is committed to supporting students from varied backgrounds, offering mentorship that respects individual experiences and fosters a sense of belonging,” says Associate Professor Tracy Mroz, who works alongside Keri DeGroot.
Dr. DeGroot has mentored the new OT faculty on curriculum development, activity-based learning, and classroom management strategies. She has positively impacted teaching practices across the department through the co-development with Dr. Danbi Lee of a Teaching Scholars series on supporting students with disabilities, which exemplifies the collaborative spirit that strengthens our educational community.
“This Department is one of the most collaborative workplaces I’ve been a part of, which allows me to more fully focus on my students and hone this teaching craft without the distractions that can come in many workplace environments,” says Dr. DeGroot. “I can’t imagine a better place to be a life-long learner and hopefully inspire the same in my students,” she adds.
The UW Distinguished Teaching Awards are part of the 55th annual University of Washington Awards of Excellence.