Connect with a Colleague: Jody Edamura

Jody Edamura 

Why did you choose occupational therapy as a career?

I wanted a career with various job options and areas of interest that would keep me motivated and inspired. Occupational therapy had those opportunities. Over the years, I have connected with a diverse spectrum of people and shared their stories of innovation with colleagues, students and clients throughout my professional career.

What is your favourite thing about CAOT-BC?

I appreciate my Northern Community of Practice network that CAOT-BC has provided. The telehealth space opened up our network and united us in the northern and rural regions. It enabled us to exchange information about our current health, clinical, and educational updates relevant to our regions.

Also, I appreciate the online CAOT webinars. The OT speakers were accessible and aided us in professional development, especially during this pandemic.

Where have you worked over your career? Where do you work now?

I started my career in Toronto working at the Orthopaedic and Arthritic hospital in a program that focused on disability assessments, return to work plans and functional capacity evaluations. In addition to this, I also assisted clients in post-op recovery from total and partial hip replacements.

My initial goal was to work in Vancouver; however, life had other plans and I landed a job in Prince George (PG) where I have spent the last 23 years growing my career.

I began work in the acute and community mental health sectors and then I made a career change to work in paediatrics at the Prince George Child Development Centre (CDC). Currently, I work in early intervention and school age therapies in PG, McBride and Valemount with a fantastic team of paediatric professionals. Then, I had a brief hiatus from Canada and spent time in sunny California gaining experience working in the school districts and understanding their health care system; however, life events led me back to PG, where I continue to appreciate working at the CDC and helping the UBC OSOT department develop the Northern Rural program.

What do you like about occupational therapy?

I am thankful that it’s a profession that is willing to pivot and evolve with the growing needs of health care. I am excited to see occupational therapists expand their expertise in new leadership roles and emerge in non-traditional areas. Our abilities to listen, reflect and exchange our viewpoints makes occupational therapists such excellent problem-solvers.

What is your personal philosophy about volunteering and giving back to the profession?

I received such memorable mentorships from other OTs and health care professions. Their personal and clinical contributions have led me to where I am today and assisted me in becoming who I am. I am happy to pay it forward and give back to our OT community.

What do you do when you aren't working?

I am eating…I am a huge foodie fan and enjoy spending time with my family and friends eating meals that we have built together. Food is such a social connector and I am always on the hunt for the ultimate “umami” blast. Yum :) 

 

Connect with a Colleague: Savannah Frederick

 

Savannah Frederick 

Why did you choose occupational therapy as a career?

I’ve always wanted to help people ever since I can remember. I stumbled across occupational therapy in my 3^rd year of my undergrad at UBCO and it was as if a lightbulb went off, this is what I want to do. I was fascinated by the variety of work OTs can do and how this rehabilitative profession takes a holistic approach to care. One area of OT that hit home for me was hand therapy. When I was young, I seriously injured my dominant hand leaving me with some impaired function but also a determination that I wasn’t going to let this stop me. Unfortunately, I was not offered the services of an OT and had to struggle to modify activities on my own. However, through trial and error I built a repertoire of strategies to modify for limited wrist extension and was able to share my knowledge while working with an older adult population as a personal trainer.  

What is your favourite thing about CAOT-BC?

CAOT-BC has a community feeling about it. BC is unique in that we have multiple health regions and through the ability of this organization this community can stay connected. CAOT-BC is also constantly look for ways to engage with members and grow this profession through educational opportunities for its members and advocacy to the public about this profession.  

What has the journey to being an OT student like for you? 

To be honest, it has been a real rollercoaster of a journey thus far. Covid-19 has had a major impact from a student’s perspective. Starting a new program in a different province for me was a new challenge, not knowing my classmates and being isolated in an apartment was not how I envisioned my first year of OT school going. However, my cohort at the U of A is made up of very strong individuals that came up with creative ways to get to know one another from having virtual game nights, connecting through social media, and making the most out of the in-person camp weeks to make friends. In some ways, I would say my connection with my friends in the program were made stronger by the joint struggle of online learning.   

What do you like about occupational therapy?

What I like most about occupational therapy is at the fundamental core of this profession it recognizes that everyone is an individual. Occupational therapy strives to meet people where they are at and makes sure as a patient, they have a seat at the table for their recovery.  

Tell me about someone who has influenced your occupational therapy journey?

I think the biggest influence on my occupational journey are all the ladies at Spectrum Rehabilitation Services Inc. in Kelowna. Through all the amazing OTs and OTA, I was allowed to explore a portion of what OTs do in the area of post-concussion and brain injury. One individual in particular who really took me under their wing, and I will be forever grateful for is Taryn Hughson who was the OTA for Spectrum. She showed me the power of active listening and how vital it is to connect with the client in order to aid in their recovery. My experience with Spectrum really solidified my choice in signing up to do my masters.

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

I tend to find ways that extend my student career without truly planning to. In high school I decided to take a gap year in between grade 11 and 12 to do a Rotary Youth Exchange to Austria and in my undergrad, I signed up to be the first Human Kinetics student to participate in the Co-op program. Apparently, I like extending everything by a year so who knows how long my masters will take me.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about becoming an OT?

Get ready to think outside the box! There is no such thing as a one size fits all and everyone is different.

Connect with a colleague - Bethany McWilliams

Bethany McWilliams 

Why did you choose occupational therapy as a career?

I studied therapeutic recreation in my undergrad studies and spent the past ten years working as a recreational therapist in different capacities and settings.  I have truly loved this work of supporting people with disabilities in kicking down barriers that may prevent them from accessing play and leisure and wanted to build on the foundational knowledge I gained in my undergrad.  I consider myself a lifelong learner, so the opportunity to go back to school has been extremely exciting for me.  Occupational therapy felt like a natural progression, as it would allow me to continue with work I am passionate about, while also expanding my scope and providing me with a new lens to see through.  I am just wrapping up my first term in the MOT program at UBC and so far I am feeling very good about this decision!

What is your favourite thing about CAOT-BC?

I appreciate how CAOT-BC welcomes student representatives from UBC’s MOT program to join for their Advisory Committee meetings as a way to stay informed on how best to support us students during our studies as well as to have a better idea of how to support students through graduation and transitioning into our careers. 

What was the journey to becoming an OT student like for you?

Not easy, but definitely worth it.  I am from the states, so getting into the program was only part of the challenge.  I then navigated the complexities of student visas, uprooted my family and made an international move to lovely British Columbia!  We are still settling in and adjusting to life in the big city, though I am excited for the opportunity to be here, learning at such an excellent university and also getting to travel all over BC for my fieldwork placements these next couple of years.  What a treat!

What has been your most interesting job?

My most interesting job was working as the special needs coordinator for a gymnastics equipment company called Tumbl Trak.  This was one of those positions that I never envisioned myself in, but one I had so much fun with it!  The position allowed me to support children of all abilities in accessing play opportunities, but my approach was very different from the direct care I was used to providing.  I worked very much behind the scenes in helping to develop a therapeutic equipment line that supports sensory motor development and play for children with disabilities.  I collaborated with professionals across the United States in the research and development phase of each product: adapted physical education teachers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, special education teachers, etc.  It was these interactions with occupational therapists that really drew me into the profession.  I was mesmerized when the OTs would take a piece of equipment and immediately recognize how the surface material would encourage arousal, or how the shape could allow for external rotation of the hips, or how the movement might impact the diaphragm, thus improving vocalization.  I learned so much from my OT colleagues in this work and it left me feeling eager to learn more.  I wanted to look at a situation and be able to see what they see!

What do you like about occupational therapy?

I’m going to answer this less about occupational therapy as a whole, and more specifically about my experience in the MOT program thus far at UBC. One of the things I have most appreciated about the program has been the emphasis that the professors have placed on things like…

- Understanding the history of OT and our western healthcare system

- Recognizing who’s voices are centered (and who’s aren’t) when developing things like assessments, policies, etc.

- Being aware of how context and the environment influence and shape occupation

- The urgent need for decolonizing the healthcare system

- Being mindful of our own biases and how these show up in our work

- Recognizing and working toward eliminating some of the power imbalances within our relationships with clients

Our professors have done an excellent job of modeling accountability and fostering critical reflexivity.  I love that as occupational therapists these are all things we are looking at and considering within our work in order to provide collaborative, individualized and equitable services!

What do you do when you aren't working, studying or volunteering?

My most meaningful occupation is mountain biking with my husband.  I also enjoying playing in the forest with my dog (a really sweet and stinky 11-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier), paddle boarding on alpine lakes, car-camping/backpacking, geeking out over wildflowers, attempting to garden, finding a new craft to fall into and then fall out of, and playing with my four nieces and nephews.

Connect with a Colleague: Linda Waithman

 

Linda Waithman 

Why did you choose occupational therapy as a career?

When I think back, I think OT chose ME as my life’s path, as opposed to the other way around. I feel very fortunate that I learned about OT as early as when I was 16 years old, when I had a hand injury and needed to see an OT for a customized hand splint. I remember seeing the OT in the St. Paul’s hand therapy unit, and I can specifically remember her talking so passionately about the love she had for her work. I also had a close family friend who became an OT several years before me, and I just KNEW that this was the profession for me.

What is your favourite thing about CAOT-BC?

CAOT-BC works tirelessly to support OTs throughout the entire province, as well as across all of the varied environments in which OTs work. From private practice, to acute care and long term care, CAOT-BC is making sure that OTs are at the forefront of conversations around evolving healthcare in a positive way. I know that I can count on CAOT-BC to ensure that increased meaningful access and awareness of OT is continually at the forefront of the minds of the relevant stakeholders in our province.

Where have you worked over your career? Where do you work now?

I love thinking about my career and how it has evolved very naturally over the years. I have worked primarily in private practice for the past 20 years, which has given me countless varied opportunities to work with exceptional clients and colleagues, including other OTs. In 2020 (yes, mid-covid!), I co-founded LiNK Rehab, with 3 other incredible OTs. Our team of OTs, Administrative Staff, Rehabilitation Assistants and Kinesiologists feel like a family, and remind me daily: “I love my job!”

What has been your most interesting job?

Definitely being involved in co-founding LiNK Rehab. It has been one of the most terrifying and rewarding experiences of my life. I am forever grateful to have three other OTs by my side who have values that align so closely with mine. We founded LiNK Rehab to be a community rehab company that provides exceptional clinical support to our clients and referral sources, all the while having a work environment that promotes a work-life balance philosophy.

What do you find most challenging about working as an OT?

Such a great question. I can talk for days about how much I love being an OT, so it’s sometimes harder to take a pause a thinking about the challenges. For me, it’s definitely ‘the daily juggle’. I became an OT in private practice, in part, to be able to have some amount of flexibility to be a mom and spend lot’s of time with my kids. This has proved to be one of the most amazing gifts for me. It has also, however, proven to be a challenge ;-)! I have a daily task of getting as close to balance as possible with work and family. This is not always easy!

What would you tell someone who is thinking about becoming an OT?

I’ve heard this one before…but for sure it would be…”Just do it!” I can talk and talk about the joy that being an OT has brought into my professional and personal life. If anyone ever approaches my about being an OT, I always say that if they want a rewarding career that aligns with values such as: doing, being, helping, supporting, and challenging, then they should just do it!

What do you think will change/shape practice over the next five years?

Covid-19 is continuing to re-shape our world. We are living through a historical pandemic and this is most definitely going to continue to impact us. As OTs, I believe that our training provides us with the perfect opportunity to demonstrate our adaptability and creativity at being able to continue to provide our clients with the highest level of assessment and treatment, all the while adhering to covid precautions. Of course, this means increasing the use of technology and video-conferencing, which has in my anecdotal experience increased and improved access!

What do you do when you aren't working?

I absolutely love spending time with my 3 young children and family.  We ski in the winter and bike in the summer, play music (piano and guitar) in between! We are counting down the days to the holidays and snow!

Connect with a Colleague: Megan Widmer

 

Megan Widmer 

Congratulations to Megan for being the 2021 recipient of the Dianna Mah-Jones Memorial Grant for Innovation!

Why did you choose occupational therapy as a career?

I spent one year following my undergrad working behind the scenes of healthcare in the patient quality world. Although this is an important and impactful part of our health care system, I quickly realized that I wanted to be at the frontlines working directly with people and making a real time difference in people’s lives. I appreciated the diversity an OT career can offer and knew by pursuing this career I was signing up to be a lifelong learner and is has yet to disappoint!

Congratulations on receiving a CAOT-BC grant! Tell us about how you have/will use this grant?

I am very grateful to have received this grant and have put the funding towards a course I took in June 2021 by Mary Warren; Visual Processing Impairment I – Evaluation and Intervention for Adult Acquired Brain Injury. I have been able to apply the knowledge gained from this course in my day-to-day work on the Acute Stroke Unit at Surrey Memorial Hospital. This course was helpful in developing my understanding of visual processing impairment and has led to more targeted assessment, treatment, and education for the patient’s I have with visual processing impairments secondary to brain injury.

What is your favourite thing about CAOT-BC?

As a recent OT graduate, I have found the resources CAOT-BC offers to be very helpful! CAOT-BC also offers a sense of community and connection to OTs across the province. I enjoy reading articles and being reminded of the impact OTs have in various sectors throughout BC.

What do you like about occupational therapy?

In my current role on the Acute Stroke Unit, I feel honoured to be part of someone’s journey during a critical point in their lives where health care workers have a profound impact. I also enjoy working with people in functional ways to understand impairments and enjoy pushing myself to be creative to find individualized interventions or adaptations. I am proud to be an OT where our practice allows us to advocate for our patients and truly work collaboratively to achieve desirable outcomes.

Tell me about someone who has influenced your occupational therapy practice?

I have been fortunate to work with a wonderful interdisciplinary team on the acute hospital I began my OT career in. Working closely with my colleagues, I have learnt from fellow OTs, PTs, RAs, SLPs, and many other disciplines that have helped to shape and develop my practice. I have been fortunate to have the mentorship of Surb Atwal during my journey training as a neuro OT. Surb’s passion for neurology and depth of knowledge has taught me vast amounts and inspired me to pursue learning opportunities and become the best OT I can be.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about becoming an OT?

From a perspective of a newer graduate, becoming an OT means signing up for a fulfilling career with countless opportunities. Through both school and the workplace, I have met incredible people who have supported me and offered guidance. The client centred focus of OT makes the profession unique and allows us to connect with and advocate for patient’s best interests. Although I am just beginning my journey as an OT I would recommend it to anyone passionate about making a true difference in the lives of others.

What do you do when you aren't (working, studying, volunteering)?

I love being outside and adventuring through this beautiful place we call home! I recently completed two backcountry hiking adventures exploring the Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park and Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. I also play a sport called Netball which is less known to most Canadians, but a very fun and teamwork-based sport!

Connect with a Colleague: Philipp Santiago

Philipp Santiago

Congratulations to Philipp for being a winner of the 2021 

CAOT-BC Research and Education Grant!

Why did you choose occupational therapy as a career?

I had always envisioned working in mental health and substance use. Discovering OT at a career fair at the University of Toronto during my undergrad studies (I did a double major in Integrative Biology and Psychology), I was immediately blown away.

I thought, “Whoa – there’s this career that is all about overcoming obstacles (i.e. rehabilitation), with a balanced approach to wellness (including mental health), AND!!! with focus on the core elements of day to day life. How fascinating! #dreamjob

Congratulations on receiving a CAOT-BC grant! Tell us about how you have/will use this grant?

I’m so thankful to CAOT-BC for the CAOT-BC Research and Education Grant – I appreciate the consideration!

Based on the CAOT Workshop, Foundations in mental health and well-being, presented by Lisa Diamond-Burchuk, OT Reg. (M.B.), my intention is to first increase my familiarity with and confidence in using a variety of the practical mental health and resiliency/coping skills, and in my current role as an OT in acute Mental Health & Substance Use Services, assist clients in overcoming thoughts, feelings and behaviours that impede functional ability to engage in meaningful occupation.

To improve direct client care, I have started to share this learning with my colleagues. Applying an interprofessional approach to supporting clients with mental health and well-being skills, we are starting to incorporate this learning into the therapeutic group programming we offer, as well as into our 1:1 interactions with clients on the acute units at the Mental Health & Wellness Centre, Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster. Materials and learnings from this training have been used to contribute to use of Grounding Kits (that clients are encouraged to use on the unit and take home), and an independent activity sheet binder full of recovery-focused handouts/worksheets (that clients can access on their own, especially during evenings and weekends).

This is an opportune time for OTs to own and focus in on these skills; promoting expertise and a strong skill set in the area of mental health and well-being. These skills include: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation (the Dialectical Behavioural Therapy skills), behavioural activation, social prescribing, and basic cognitive behavioural therapy skills.

OTs, the interprofessional team, and client families can support the client, and each other, during these unprecedented times, with several options in their wellness toolkits.

By having a strong sense of resilience, clients will be able to participate more in meaningful activities, and feel intrinsically motivated by their values and beliefs, while still acknowledging any emotions brought on by the pandemic and other general life stressors. This will also support the client in getting the most out of the services they are accessing, and their general treatment and wellness goals.

What is your favourite thing about CAOT-BC?

I love the accessibility and variety of educational opportunities available! I also love the chance to network with OTs out of my worksite bubble. Each OT definitely puts their own mark on the delivery of OT services, so that is always neat to appreciate, in meeting a variety of OTs from all over the province. CAOT-BC also offers leadership opportunities, such as chairing a practice network (like the Mental Health & Substance Use Practice Network, which I have had the pleasure of chairing just under 2 years)! Thank you CAOT-BC!

Where have you worked over your career? Where do you work now?

My OT career started in 2009. I started in a return to work program in Nanaimo. Not feeling it was a fit for me, I then moved back to my home province and worked at Ontario Shores, in the Older Adult Mental Health Program. I realized then again that this area of practice wasn’t the perfect match, in terms of my skills and interests. I returned to BC to then work at the Burnaby Mental Health Inpatient Unit (IPU) for approximately 8 years (on and off!), which truly, looking back, was where my passion for OT, and rehabilitation and recovery, really was discovered. Invigorated and #mOTivated, I knew that that was where my own strengths as an OT were optimized, in the same way that we support individuals we serve to discover how to be their best selves. Did an OT create the hashtag #livingmybestlife?!?

I’ve also worked briefly in private practice in Durham Region, Ontario, and over the past 3 years, have been working in different leadership capacities, in temporary positions: first at the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health & Substance Use (Provincial Health Services Authority) as the OT Professional Practice Lead, then at Vancouver Coastal Health as the OT Mental Health & Substance Use (MHSU) Clinical Resource Therapist, and recently again with Fraser Health as the Clinical Lead for OT MHSU from March 2020 – May 2021. Since May of this year, I’ve returned to the role where I feel I have the most “flow” in acute psychiatry; at the new Mental Health & Wellness Centre, Royal Columbian Hospital, I serve one of the general Mental Health Inpatient Units, as well as the Psychiatric High Acuity Unit (PHAU).

On the side, I’ve worked with COTBC as a Continuing Competency Exam Sub-Committee Member from 2014-2016, and as a Small Group Tutorial Facilitator with UBC’s Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, starting in 2018.

What do you find most challenging about working as an OT?

The challenge in supporting the interprofessional team and leadership to truly appreciate the scope of OT practice, especially in MHSU services, continues!

I believe that outcome measures (e.g. COPM) can translate the value of OT (that we already know!) into universal information for others/stakeholders to really digest and understand, fully.

I believe that in OT MHSU practice especially, that us being mindful of how our assessment and intervention is connected to function is super important in keeping ourselves in check (in terms of scope), and being able to objectively reason (for clients, ourselves, our team, and the College) how what we’re doing is legit as OTs (e.g. use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as a tool in supporting a client’s occupational goals, versus a stand-alone “therapy” session).

What has surprised you most about working as an OT?

I’d say that as a sole OT on several interprofessional teams, what has been surprising, in both positive and challenging ways, is the impact of the work that you do as a sole representative of the profession. At times, it’s a lot of pressure, especially if your advocacy for the client from an OT lens isn’t fully appreciated. However, in the instances that the team totally understands and values your involvement, and the work you’ve been doing with the client has been so positively impactful for them, it’s a pleasant surprise!

What do you think will change/shape practice over the next five years?

Now more than ever, I believe that virtual services will shape OT practice in the near future. Of course, in appreciating its limitations and how it may be the next best thing compared to how things were done in the past, on the flip side, it may open the door to opportunities, in serving clients in a different way, with broader breadth of outreach. Definitely lots to appreciate, including virtual “burnout” of staff and clients, effects on engagement and rapport-building, access to technology, and the effects of changes in daily routine (e.g. less structured use of time, accessing the outside environment less frequently, less physical movement and exercise, seeing others less, and overall effects on sense of self). We can all appreciate the effects that COVID-19 has had on our own mental health – I can only imagine its effects on those who live with mental illness and/or substance use challenges, especially on their hopes and dreams.

#OT365

Jay MacDonald: Connect with a Colleague

 

Jay MacDonald 

Why did you choose occupational therapy as a career?

My mom told me that I should be an OT when I was 16 years old. I didn’t really listen to her at the time and went off to do undergrad. When I was going into my last year of my Kinesiology degree I was trying to decide what to study in a research masters. I looked up OT and it was love at first sight. I was blown away by the profession and all that OTs are able to do to enable people to participate in meaningful activities. I was excited by the creativity in OT and the potential for our profession.

What is your favourite thing about CAOT-BC?

The resources, learning opportunities and practice networks are my favourite things. I am in the occupational therapy and sexuality practice network and it is incredibly helpful. I strongly encourage people to join a practice network that is relevant to your practice area.

What has been your most interesting job?

I am starting a new job that is going to be very interesting! So far, the most interesting job has been Research, Education, and Practice Coordinator at Providence Health Care. It was a big portfolio and every single day I learned something new! Providence was also a great organization to work for and the OT’s are incredible. It was rare to hear an OT say “I can’t” and instead there was a lot of, “how can we make this work for our patient/client/resident”. The OTs always advocate for patients and work super hard, with some very challenging PEO fits, to get supports and services that work for clients. The problem solving we do at Providence, given that our population includes the Downtown East Side, is multidimensional and causes us to reflect on our own values and how those influence how we work with clients, many of whom lead much different lives than we do ourselves.

What has surprised you most about working as an OT?

Humour can be a great tool to use in health care. I tend to make jokes when I am anxious as a way to break the ice. There have been times in my career when a joke probably was not the wisest choice and if I was a student I might have been chastised, but having the whole health care team laugh with a family and patient, and consequently let go of pent up emotions, really helped everyone relax and have a real conversation about what needed to be done. When I am teaching, in meetings, working with clients, running groups, I find a bit of humour can put folks at ease and help focus. Hospitals can be pretty dreary places to be when you are a patient, everyone is very serious, so to be a bit of light in a patient’s day and to have a client look forward to their OT session, that is really rewarding and I think leads to better care.

What do you find most challenging about working as an OT?

Navigating the complexity of the health care system! I have worked with folks from low socioeconomic status for a significant portion of my career. They will know what they want, I will see what they need, and the challenge is how to navigate the complicated and ever expanding bureaucracy to put the supports and services in place for a client to achieve their occupational goals. I spend a lot of my time figuring out how to navigate the system and make it easier for OTs to find the resources that they need. Nothing is easy to find or navigate and it feels like new layers of forms, gate keeping, exclusion criteria, meetings, and blocked opportunities are put in place every day for our clients at PHC. The healthcare system favours folks from privileged backgrounds and if you are not from higher socioeconomic status and fit all the checkboxes, it can be next to impossible to get supports and services that you need. Thankfully at PHC we are committed to social justice and advocate hard for clients. While it is super challenging, the OT crew do an amazing job!

What do you think will change/shape practice over the next five years?

There are so many changes happening it is very hard to pick just one! Climate change is an environmental factor that we are going to have to take into consideration. Not only in terms of the heat we have experienced this summer, but also considering freeze/thaw cycles in some of BC’s colder communities and what that means for older adults slipping on ice or being trapped in their homes for the winter. The climate extremes that we are starting to experience are going to impact how we do OT. Technology has the potential to make our lives easier. It also has the potential to broaden the gap between folks from low socio-economic backgrounds and those of us who have privilege. Many of our standardized IADL assessments are starting to become irrelevant because they do not look at managing technology. This is an area that we need to quickly adapt to while also starting to think about how we can improve access to our services for those without the means to acquire their own technology. With so much virtual health now in place, I wonder how many people we are leaving behind because they don’t have the means to purchase technology to go to treatments.

What do you do when you aren't working?

Sports! I am a huge winter sports fan with skiing being my favourite. When I was a kid my dream was to be an Olympic alpine ski racer and I love to go fast!!! I have also cross country skied my whole life and it is a passion of mine. I also love tennis and am an avid player. I enjoy swimming, especially open water in the ocean. I love equestrian and if I won the lottery I would buy a horse and ride every day!

#OT365

Connect with a Colleague: Nicole Crampton

Nicole Crampton - Hiking McBride Peak

Why did you choose occupational therapy as a career?

I chose occupational therapy as a career as it offers multiple different career opportunities (from womb to tomb) in numerous clinical areas (pediatrics, geriatrics, specialty areas), and promotes engagement and wellbeing in everyday life. Out of all the professions, OT was the career that spoke to me due to its holistic approach, meaningful engagement, and that it allows the clinician to be creative, to problem solve, and to think outside the box. 

What is your favourite thing about CAOT-BC?

Practice Networks that provide a community of practice for OTs across the north –public and private. It is a great opportunity to share ideas, problem solve, and network across different areas. Thank you for facilitating this networking.

Where have you worked over your career? Where do you work now?

I completed my BSc in Occupational Therapy at Queen Margaret University College in Scotland in 2002, which led to 5 years of working as an occupational therapist in the United Kingdom. I worked in a physical medical basic grade rotation and then as a locum at various hospitals throughout London prior to moving back to Canada in 2007. Since moving back to Prince George, I have been able to work as a generalist OT in a variety of areas, including rehabilitation (the only rehab unit in the north), surgical, acute medical, and elective surgeries, and have been exposed to so many specialty services (burns, splinting, complex seating, dysphagia). I also had the opportunity to be the Acting Chief Occupational Therapist from 2012-2014, and then took up the Chief Occupational Therapist role in 2017.

What has been your most interesting job?

The Chief Occupational Therapist role is a unique position that includes 0.5 FTE clinical and 0.5 FTE managerial. It supports mentorship amongst the team, exposes you to clinical realities that OTs face on the floors, and encourages teamwork across the hospital. The UHNBC OTs are hired as generalists and because of this, the OT’s can cover any area of the hospital and support each other throughout rotations and in developing clinical skills.

What do you find most challenging about working as an OT?

Supply and demand of occupational therapists is the most challenging aspect of the OT profession. Northern Health is the largest geographical health authority (the size of France), and comprises 6% of the population and only 3% of the OTs provincially. Because it is such a large geographical region with less population density, the role of the OT is very broad and the expectations for rural therapists may be different than in larger centres. UBC has set up an MOT program at the University Hospital of Northern BC starting in 2020/2021, with 8 cohort students focusing on the north, and in 2022 are opening up an in-person program for 16 students. There is so much opportunity in the north – I am hopeful that the new program at UNBC will expose people to the opportunities and adventures available in the north.

What do you think will change/shape practice over the next five years?

With the new MOT program opening up at UNBC, the department is anticipating more student placements, more opportunities with student lead clinics, and new innovative programs being developed to meet the students’ needs/clinical needs. It is a very exciting time in the north to be an OT and part of this new opportunity. 

#OT365