Multiple emerging trends are impacting Canada’s healthcare system. Healthcare is dynamic, and is able to respond to changes in societal norms and trends, as well as changes in technological and medical innovation. The profession of occupational therapy can directly influence and respond to many of these trends. Occupational therapy is vital in providing universal, client-centered coverage to necessary health support systems. Not only is occupational therapy a way to promote and restore health, prevent disability, and maintain abilities for patients, it is also a growing field with emerging practices that can lead healthcare reform for the benefit of all Canadians.

As an occupational therapist, it is vital to utilize strong clinical reasoning and evidence based practice in order to enable a client to achieve activities of daily living. In order to accomplish these aspects, my education in Kinesiology and Occupational Therapy at Queen’s University has prepared and motivated me for a career in occupational therapy. My courses have integrated a strong background in science with social sciences to develop a holistic and client-centered approach to healthcare. Throughout my fieldwork, I have attempted to incorporate my education into practical application. In my first placement at Queen Elizabeth Collegiate and Vocational Institute, I was able to developed management and leadership skills through identifying individual needs of participants to improve social inclusion, and adapting program instruction for improved student participation in a role emerging area unsupervised by an OT.  In my second clinical placement split between the Kingston General Hospital (acute care) and Trudi Wright Rehabilitation Associates (community), I developed clinical reasoning and strong charting skills working in the ICU, general surgery, awaiting LTC, and cardiac units at KGH in addition to strong report writing skills and initiative for self-directed learning working with veteran, MVA, and return to work populations.  Finally, in my community development placement, I have developed strong clinical research skills in identifying the health literacy levels of patients in the dialysis unit at Kingston General Hospital. I have shadowed a paediatric occupational therapist within the Scarborough General Hospital and realized that a high degree of clarity, communication, and hands-on treatment programs are key determinants of success. Although the modalities of treatment differ between physiotherapy and occupational therapy, the professionalism and communication skills developed between the patients and surrounding therapists are invaluable transferable traits I have developed throughout my work at Bayview Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine Clinic, Blue Balloon Health Services, and the Sport Medicine Specialists. Although these aforementioned experiences have allowed me to develop the understanding and strengths that are necessary within the field of occupational therapy, my volunteer and work experience has also prepared me for occupational therapy as a career choice.

I have also been motivated to pursue occupational therapy through my experiences within my university career. Part of being an occupational therapist is to become highly adaptable to a variety of situations and develop inventive solutions to problems encountered. In December 2010, months after the devastating earthquake, I travelled to Milot, Haiti to work in clinics designated for treating patients during the cholera epidemic. Limited resources lead to our team using innovation and implementation of systems in order to adapt to the fluid dynamics of the clinic. In addition, I was able to establish appropriate bedside manner, evoke professionalism in my demeanor, and improve my communication skills in a population that speaks limited English. These aspects were further developed within my job as a medical secretary. Within the Kingston community, and as a student at Queen’s University, I am involved in multiple projects that integrate a variety of modalities to enhance the surrounding community. In the past, I instructed individualized swim lessons for children who identify with developmental and physical disabilities through a program called Making Waves. Through work at QJUMP, a Queen’s organization that coaches high school students in sport, I excelled in collaborating with volunteers and developing strong relationships with participants. As a developing organization, working on the committee for QJUMP allowed me to take a leadership role, and look at the past to project and plan for the future of the program. As the secretary and orientation week coordinator, I have been ale to apply strong written and oral communication in order to organize groups cohesively.  Likewise, I have been on the committee for the Winter Adapted Games (WAG), a sports event that pairs up students and Kingston residents who identify with a disability. The impact WAG has on the participants and the connections it inspires between students and the community is immense. As a committee member, I have developed not only leadership, but also organizational and time management skills in order to meet required deadlines and be able to anticipate participant needs in advance. I have developed excellent management skills while coaching ski teams for a variety of ages and competitive levels, and working for the Enrichment studies unit at Queen’s University as a Student Supervisor and Activities Coordinator. These experiences have allowed me to create and deliver play based programming that can be adapted to the needs of the participating children in the program. Through all of these experiences, I have developed strong responsibility, professionalism, initiative, and communication skills. As an occupational therapist, I will have the ability to expand my current knowledge of health promotion and rehabilitation, and to apply that knowledge practically in a creative, and responsible way.