Thursday 13 February 2014

cOnnecT with Emma Smith- Chair, CAOT-BC Seating & Assistive Technology SIG


What made you choose OT as your career?
I came to Occupational Therapy unconventionally – with an International Development Studies degree. In International Development, there is a focus on building capacity for change by capitalizing on the strengths of a community, often through participatory processes. Although I love the field, I wanted to work closer to home, on a more individual scale, and OT offered me the chance to do this. Similarly, OTs work on building capacity for change within an individual, capitalizing on their strengths, within a client centred focus – remarkably similar to the community building process I had been educated in. OT was a natural fit for my interests, and offered a chance to be engaged in an incredibly diverse, varied profession, with opportunities to improve the daily lives of individuals within my community. 

Where have you worked over your career?
I’ve had the great fortune to have worked in a range of physical and mental health areas, as well as teaching. My clinical roles have included practice in burns/plastics, geriatric restorative care, orthopaedics, community/home care, school care, paediatric mental health, and most recently, assistive technology and specialised seating. I have taught in a variety of capacities, teaching both OTs and OTAs in Nova Scotia, Ontario, and BC. I’ve also held less traditional roles – as Stroke Program Coordinator for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, and Client Support Worker for a shelter for homeless women and youth.

What has been your most interesting job?
My jobs have all been interesting on some level, but I have the most passion for assistive technology and specialised seating. My interest propelled me to enrol in the PhD program at UBC, with a focus on issues related to mobility and assistive technology. I’m looking forward to the challenge of the endeavour, and hope this will be the most interesting pursuit yet!

What do you find most challenging about working as an OT?
The thing I find most challenging about working as an OT is also the factor which keeps the job so interesting – the variety. I love that every client and every solution are unique, and really enjoy the collaborative process leading to a great solution. 

What is your personal philosophy about volunteering and giving back to the profession?
I believe volunteering and participating in our professional organization is critical to ensuring the success of the profession. A profession does not grow and succeed without support from the membership. My philosophy suggests all Occupational Therapists should determine the direction of the profession, and advocate for our inclusion. I believe it is critically important more Occupational Therapists step out of their work lives to contribute to the growth of the profession – even with a small contribution, or the profession will stagnate and fall behind in. After all, if we don’t believe in the benefit of our services enough to give back, it’s hard to imagine we will be able to convince anyone else of the great things which OTs can do!

What do you think will change/shape practice over the next five years?
As most of us have seen first-hand, health care funding is a huge challenge in British Columbia, Canada, and world-wide. With the expiry of the Canada Health Act and Health Accord in the coming year, our federal government has an opportunity to re-define Canadian Health Care delivery. For those who don’t know, these two agreements govern how universal health care services are delivered in Canada, and how the funding is apportioned between provinces. We may see a shift to more public-private partnerships, and a decline in publicly managed health care – a move which will impact everyone. In the coming years, I feel practice will be significantly shaped by these political issues – as health care structure and funding change. 

What do you do when you aren't working?
I love to be busy, so when I’m not working, you’ll find me volunteering for the Sunshine Foundation of Canada – helping deliver dreams to kids with severe physical disabilities and life threatening illnesses, the Mainland BC Military Family Resource Centre as a member of the Board of Directors, Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports, RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America), the RESNA Professional Standards Board, Vancouver Resource Society for the Physically Disabled, and of course, with CAOT-BC. In my non-volunteer time, I enjoy being active on my bike, swimming, paddling, and skiing, and spending time with my friends and family. For true down time, I head to my family cottage in Nova Scotia for much needed rest and relaxation!

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