At the start of the DU MSOT program, I was a new occupational therapy student (OTS), with little knowledge of physical rehabilitation, human movement analysis (HMA), the fundamentals of occupational therapy (OT), or the complexity of OT rehabilitation among adults and seniors. I entered my HMA course with only a foundation of human anatomy, unaware and unsure how the aspects of human anatomy could be applied directly to occupations. I soon learned that through body mechanics and knowledge of levers within the body, I could assist my future clients in moving their shopping bag closer to their elbow rather than holding it on their wrist in order to decrease pain and allow them to more easily and successfully engage in grocery shopping independently. I then entered my first adults and seniors course, where I began to learn about various conditions and their associated symptoms that often result in an OT referral. Prior to my first adults and seniors course, I was unaware of the significant role that an OT played in enhancing the quality of life and independence of a person with neuropathy secondary to diabetes, or a cancer patient who experiences cancer related fatigue and is unable to perform ADLs independently. I then entered the fundamentals course, where I learned to apply what I had learned to a semi-real simulation. I practiced conducting various assessments and transfers while demonstrating my clinical reasoning to complete documentation. In my second adults and seniors course, I learned to utilize my clinical reasoning as an essential tool in my OT toolbox. Through skilled observations, I can make informed decisions that help shape appropriate and occupation-based treatment interventions.

In my third occupations of adults and seniors course, I learned how to combine my knowledge on the foundational principles of OT with specific interventions from my neuromotor toolbox. I learned to develop thoughtful and meaningful treatment plans that with enhance the independence and recovery of my future clients. I learned to utilize my developing clinical reasoning skills to analyze and interpret assessments, observations, and information gathered from electronic health records. In doing so, I further strengthened my clinical reasoning skills, which allowed me to better develop client-centered intervention plans that incorporate a multitude of modalities from my neuromotor toolbox.  The knowledge and skills that I have obtained throughout my physical rehabilitation courses has allowed me to develop an intervention plan that is holistic in nature, encompassing not only modalities from the neuromotor toolbox, but other interventions that are essential to one’s recovery such as energy conservation techniques and environmental set up and assistance. I have learned to utilize various frames of references to ensure the intervention plan encompasses components that focus on enhancing the well-being of the whole client.  Additionally, an important takeaway from my third adults and seniors course, was the importance of thinking deep and complexly. I entered this course with the knowledge of various conditions and diagnoses; however, this course taught me how to think complexly about how to consider multiple conditions and factors that influence a client’s independence and overall well-being. Rather than focusing solely on one condition my client may experience, I must consider how multiple conditions and factors intersect to develop an appropriate, effective, and client-centered intervention. 

My experiences in my physical rehabilitation courses and fieldwork have given me insight into the core values that I hold as an OTS, which I plan to take with my into my future career as a licensed OT. One of the most important values I will take with me, is my commitment to being client-centered. I will utilize my active listening skills to prioritize the needs and goals of each specific client, understanding their concerns and wishes for their recovery process. In placing the client at the center of the therapeutic process, I will view them as the expert of their recovery, empowering them to take an active role in their rehabilitation journey.  Additionally, I aspire to bring my value of team collaboration into my future practice. I recognize the importance of collaboration in facilitating effective treatment. OT is a profession that is founded on collaboration and a team-based approach to recovery.  I must consider the valuable input of not only my fellow OTs’, but the input from other valuable healthcare professionals on my team. Most importantly, I must recognize the client and their caregivers as valuable members of the rehabilitation team. By working collaboratively with all members of the team, I can ensure that my clients receive comprehensive and holistic care that addresses all aspects of their well-being to ensure a successful recovery and discharge. 

Finally, I recognize that the profession of OT is firmly rooted in our identity as occupation-based therapists. To add value to the rehabilitation team, and to differentiate myself from other members of the team, I must bring with me, my occupation-based approach to therapy. I will prioritize occupation-based activities that are meaningful to my clients to ensure they develop skills, strategies, and modifications that not only enhance their independence, but allow them to engage in the occupations that are most meaningful to them. As I look into the future of not only my career as an occupational therapist, but the future of the profession, I hope to advance the profession through utilizing evidence-based practice (EBP). By utilizing EBP, myself and other practitioners can ensure that our interventions are based on the most up-to-date and accurate information available, thus yielding the most optimal results for our client’s recovery. Using EBP to guide clinical decisions is demonstrating a client-centered practice by improving outcomes for clients and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of our interventions. In additional to planning my interventions based on EBP, I hope to contribute to the growing body of research. I will contribute to the ongoing development of the profession by completing surveys through CommunOT, contributing to AOTA discussion boards, and utilizing EPB in my own practice.