Personal Statement

My passion for promoting patient safety in the community is deeply rooted in my experiences working in disaster relief and affordable housing. Prior to pursuing a career in OT, I worked in the construction field via AmeriCorps. This involved roles at two distinct non-profit organizations: Saint Bernard Project (SBP), focusing on disaster relief, and Habitat for Humanity, concentrating on affordable housing. Through my past work, I understood the significance of a holistic and proactive approach in solving problems, aligning closely with the principles of OT. Although my background surprises many of my patients, I see similarities between the non-profit sector and OT in their shared focus on assisting others. 

Community service has always been a significant part of my life, but a new mission arose after my family was affected by Superstorm Sandy in 2012. This prompted me to graduate early from my undergraduate degree and move to New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2014. In this new role, I directly aided those impacted by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Isaac. I volunteered to deploy to San Marcos, Texas, after flash flooding in 2015. Eventually, I returned to the northeast to assist in rebuilding homes affected by Sandy in the South Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods in 2016. Even after obtaining my Master's degree in OT in 2018, my passion for construction persisted, and I continue to volunteer as a Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Site Leader.

During my time in the non-profit sector, I instructed unskilled volunteers in various construction skills, from demolition and drywall to finishing work such as flooring, tiling, and trim work. Beyond technical construction skills, I honed leadership qualities such as managing work site safety, delegated tasks, monitored volunteer progress, and exercised problem-solving skills. I often find myself drawing parallels between teaching volunteers and educating my patients about safety awareness. My years in construction also sparked an interest in learning about adaptations for aging in place, shaping me into the passionate and enthusiastic OT practitioner I am today. 

Since 2019, I've been working in the inpatient acute care setting at NYU Langone Health, gaining expertise across diverse hospital units, including general medicine, ICUs, cardiac, general surgery, neurology, and oncology. A concerning trend I've observed across these units is the return of "frequent flyer" patients due to recurrent falls or preventable injuries. Other evolving safety concerns, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have impacted my everyday practice and will be addressed within this portfolio. In obtaining my OTD, I hope to continue my exploration throughout the continuum of care to better advocate for my patient's safety. The desire to contribute to the well-being of individuals in the hospital and in the community has been a driving force in my decision to pursue my OTD. I aim to leverage my background to contribute to occupational therapy strategies that enhance patient safety on a broader scale, integrating lessons learned from disaster response into everyday care. 

To guide the process while creating my Professional Portfolio, I used the metaphor around building a house. When setting a foundation, one forms the key component that holds up the entire house. Therefore, I gained clinical knowledge regarding my main interests of client safety across the continuum of care. Then, framing the walls involves building on that foundation by applying previous knowledge. I accomplished this by creating resources for older adults to optimize safety and reduce risk of falling. Finally, building the roof makes the final product able to function as it's intended purpose. Therefore, I will disseminate my clinical knowledge to student and staff occupational therapists while developing my leadership skills.

Pictured Below: Regina Zick working in non-profit construction

Pictured Below: The Zick Family Home after Superstorm Sandy, October 2012

All images above are Regina Zick's personal photos.