Project Evaluation: Reflection on Process & Student Learning Objectives 

Personal Connection to Project

Living with a chronic illness, I have learned that my health and well-being can not only be defined by the absence of illness, but rather by my ability to manage my condition, adapt my lifestyle, and participate in my meaningful activities. I was 15 years old when I was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). I experienced years of debilitating symptoms that kept me from participating in my everyday activities such as dance, school, and socializing with friends and family. My experiences within the healthcare system emphasized the medical management of my condition, however, I lacked support from healthcare providers regarding my daily functioning and lifestyle modifications that needed to be put in place. I struggled navigating my new diagnosis and incorporating my doctor’s recommendations into my daily life routines. ​​Although chronic disease management and health promotion are within occupational therapy’s scope of practice, I was not referred to an OTP, nor was there an OTP  on my primary care team. During my first year as an occupational therapy student at Kean University, I was introduced to occupational therapy’s distinct value in the areas of health promotion and prevention. I decided that I could use my unique position as a doctoral student to design a capstone project that would educate primary care providers on occupational therapy’s scope of practice and promote the integration of occupational therapy into primary care settings. 

Personal and Professional Impact 

Throughout the doctoral capstone experience, I have gained skills and knowledge that will positively impact my personal and professional endeavors. I have learned and demonstrated the ability to take responsibility for autonomous learning, receive and apply constructive criticism, and collaborate with intraprofessional and interprofessional healthcare providers. These skills will continue to be enhanced as I soon enter the field of occupational therapy as a practitioner. 

During this project, I assumed the role of an educator and advocate in order to meet societal needs of children’s health and advance the field of occupational therapy into pediatric primary care. My confidence in my ability to articulate occupational therapy’s distinct value to primary care has increased tremendously. The ability to confidently articulate occupational therapy’s distinct value will be beneficial in my career as I educate clients, caregivers, and interprofessional colleagues on my role. The 14-week implementation of this project looked different than I anticipated due to unforeseen circumstances. This challenged me to adapt my original plan to meet the needs of my participants. Adaptability is a characteristic that will serve me well as I transition to the role of an occupational therapy practitioner.