Why did you choose occupational therapy as a career?
My undergrad was in plant ecology- not necessarily an
intuitive leap to occupational therapy. For my last term of my undergrad, I did
a study abroad program in Kenya. I travelled and camped with Canadian and
Kenyan faculty and other Canadian undergrad students across Kenya, while taking
ecology, archeology, and anthropology courses. I was immersed in experiential
learning and realised how much I was energized by working with and learning
from people. I came back to Vancouver and knew that I wanted to pursue a
profession where I could continue that work. I volunteered and worked with
L’Arche, an organization for persons with intellectual disabilities, and knew I
wanted to work in healthcare. Fortunately, my aunt is an occupational therapist
(now retired) and she saw in me an alignment with occupational therapy. And she
was right! Looking back on it now, my interest in ecology really resonates with
the holistic view of occupational therapy J
What is your favourite thing about CAOT-BC?
I love the community of CAOT-BC and feeling connected to my
fellow occupational therapists. CAOT-BC works tirelessly with this community to
advocate for occupational therapy, deliver continuing education, and build
connections to improve practice through the practice networks. I love reading
about what other occupational therapists are doing and just feel so blown away
and inspired by the extraordinary work being done! It’s such a fantastic
resource and I recommend all occupational therapists to join. I’m just very
grateful for CAOT-BC’s work and to be a part of this community!
Where
have you worked over your career? Where do you work now?
I’m a curious person and like to feel the pressure of being
challenged a bit outside of my comfort zone. I’ve also moved between B.C. and
Ontario and back again since I became an occupational therapist. So, I have
worked in quite a few areas! Adult inpatient specialized mood disorders at UBC;
adult ortho-trauma and orthopedic surgery at VGH; emergency medicine and
sub-acute care at Delta Hospital; community-based and school-based in Georgian
Bay, Ontario; in child and youth mental health on a family health team in
Georgian Bay, Ontario; and at B.C. Children’s Hospital as a casual occupational
therapist across their physical medicine programs and in their mental health
programming with the specialized eating disorders programs, inpatient
adolescent psychiatry program, and child psychiatry program. I’ve also worked
as a research assistant on projects through OSOT UBC and University of Toronto
and as a research coordinator with OSOT UBC. I now work as an Instructor with
the department of OSOT at UBC and love it!
What do
you like about OT?
Since I was introduced to occupation through occupational
science research as a student, I continuously find it a fascinating concept and
feel so fortunate to be able to teach it to student occupational therapists. My
occupational perspective is unshakable and I’m so grateful for it. We can
engage in occupations to better our health and well-being, to build community,
and to leave the world a better place. We can also engage in occupations that
jeopardize our health, hurts others, and destroy the planet. As occupational
therapists, we have the knowledge, skills, and responsibility to understand
both of these realities and to work collaboratively with individuals, families,
communities to realise the health-promoting, restorative, and sustainable
effects of occupational engagement.
Tell me
about someone who has influenced your OT practice?
My aunt Barbara O’Shea is a total badass occupational
therapist! She is tenacious and unapologetically determined in her belief of
the value and need for occupational therapy. She founded the program at
Dalhousie University and has been instrumental in establishing programs across
the world. She was given an honorary doctorate from Dalhousie University a few
years ago and that accomplishment is just extraordinary. I try my best to challenge
her drive and determination in seeing occupational therapy achieve its
potential to change the world.
What do
you do when you aren't working and volunteering?
I am fortunate to have a full life with my husband Mark, our
two young daughters, Willa and Annabel, and our dog Sid. I love the creativity
of baking and cooking, and like to do these with my girls. While I’m not a
camper (though it’s on my list!), I love spending time outdoors. Nature is such
a gift, and a precious one that I am so acutely aware of with our current
crisis of climate change. So, I try to get outside as often as possible and
bring my girls along, whether it’s in our garden, tending to our vegetable
patch, or exploring the many green spaces and urban forests in and around where
we live. To see nature’s beauty up close makes you care more, feel a
responsibility and duty to do what we can to stop climate change. I want to
instill that respect and responsibility in my children. I also like to watch
TV, listen to music, and enjoy a nice glass of wine!
#OT365
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