Great Bend native Kortney Traylor loved playing softball in high school, and thanks to Barton Community College, she was able to play for another two years while also getting a start on her college education, which put her on a path that would lead her back to her local area to work as an occupational therapist at Clara Barton Medical Center in Hoisington.

“I love being back in my home community because you get an opportunity to help care for your loved ones or other people you know and care about,” she said. “Just to get to see them go back home or see them in the grocery store living their lives is very satisfying.”

Traylor was planning on becoming a dental hygienist at one point, but when her father had to navigate a challenging illness that affected his motor skills, she witnessed how occupational therapy helped him get his life back on track. At that point, she knew she wanted to pursue occupational therapy as a career.

“I love occupational therapy because I’m able to work with people and help them achieve their goals after a surgery or a stroke and getting them back to a proper level of function helps them get their lives back,” she said. “I love celebrating all their milestones with them along the way. I get really close to my patients, and you become like a little family.”

Traylor said her Barton experience helped prepare her for the next step in her educational journey as she went to the University of Kansas Medical Center to get her master’s degree.

“I think if you want to play sports or go for academics at a more affordable level, Barton is a great option,” she said. “You get a lot of one-on-one experience, you can get a lot of your gen eds out of the way, and you get a chance to work with their advisors to get you to the next level of what you want to do.”

Prior to accepting her position at Clara Barton Medical Center, Traylor worked at another local facility at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in Larned for nine years.

For more information, visit bartonccc.edu or call (620) 792-2701.