Momentum Summit III: Focusing on the future of OT

The morning session exploring evolving practice settings, including integrative health, pelvic and women’s health, was facilitated by AOTA member Apple Sepulveda, MS, OTR/L, BCP, SWC. Current trends for OT to address the distinctive and intersecting physical and mental health needs of new moms and babies, the gaps in existing health systems including Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and reinforced the importance of holistic care, health management, and prevention as essential to the overall health of women.

Watch trending opportunities in integrative, maternal, pelvic, and women's health

Panelists

Facilitator: Apple Sepulveda, MS, OTR/L, BCP, SWC 
Board-certified pediatric occupational therapist, Community Change Leadership Network & Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA)  

Integrative health: Michelle Bradshaw, D.C., OTR/L
Associate Professor, Ithaca College, AOTA Pelvic Health Communities of Practice

Pelvic health: Laura Rowan, OT/L
Founder of Essential Pelvic Health LLC, AOTA Pelvic Health Communities of Practice

Women’s health: Special guest,  Brandi Ring, MD, MBA, FACOG, FAWM, FACS 
Board-certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist and the Associate Medical Director for The Center for Children and Women Southwest 

The afternoon transitioned to spotlight speaker, Nancy Yamoah, MS, OTR/L, of Lovelyy Consults, who challenged Summit attendees to further promote themselves as OT professionals by capitalizing on the reach of social media and highlighted the significance of pursuing their purpose by sharing knowledge and expertise and working collaboratively across a wide spectrum of health professionals.

Ganesh M. Babulal, PhD, OTD, MSCI, MOT facilitated an afternoon panel addressing advances in technology that may be a challenge for occupational therapy practitioners to strive to stay up to date with current options. This discussion included the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in practice and potential importance of occupational therapy in contributing to future AI development, the use of social robotics to support aging in place, and technology applications to promote driving and community mobility gave participants a broad perspective of future trends from burgeoning technology.

Watch "The rise of technology."

Panelists

Facilitator: Ganesh M. Babulal, PhD, OTD, MSCI, MOT
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis

MIT Tech Updates: Social robotics and aging in place
Maryam “Shabnam” FakhrHosseini, PhD
Research Scientist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab

MIT Tech Updates: Social robotics and aging in place
Miriam Monahan OTD, MS, OTR/L, CDRS
Adjunct Scholar, University of Florida, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Public Health and Health Professions

Summit conversation: The rise of men in OT

The DEIJAB section of the summit featured an all-men's panel discussing the value and need for men of color within OT. The panel, facilitated by the AOTA Interim Executive Director, spoke candidly about lack of representation in the profession and a diverse workforce's importance as a reflection of the clients and communities they serve. Addressing barriers, sharing lived experiences, and offering advice to future practitioners, rounded out the discussion. “I think we survive because of diversity and our adaptability, and the only way we adapt is by generating diverse ideas,” said Ideishi. “When we don’t have that diverse idea in our profession, we shrink. Whether it's men, whether it's people of color, we need that diversity to self-generate our profession into the future.”

Panelists

Facilitator: Charles Jeffers II
AOTA Interim Executive Director

Delvin Champagne, MSHE, CHES, COTA/L, ATP
Assistive Technology Program Manager (ATP), Reasonable Accommodations, USDA; Occupational Therapy Practitioner/Co-Owner, Beltway Rehab Pros, LLC; Advocacy Chair, District of Columbia Occupational Therapy Association

Roger Ideishi, JD, OT/L, FAOTA
Program Director for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program; Professor of Health, Human Function, and Rehabilitation Sciences, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences; Incoming chair, AOTF’s Standing for Research Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (STRIDE)

Vikram Pagpatan, EdD, OTR/L, BCP, CLA, ATP, FAOTA
Assistant Professor, Admissions Coordinator, Occupational Therapy Program, Downstate Health Sciences University; AOTA Board Member

The DEIJAB section wrapped up with moderated panels on the historical impact of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community in occupational therapy schools and the necessary progression for more diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices in academia, the recognition of the 50-year anniversary of Howard University University’s Occupational Therapy Program and the National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus; gender affirming care and newly developed resources, a spotlight on the Consortium of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Interdisciplinary Rehab Programs (CHIRP), and a robust conversation on addressing ways the next generation of students and new professionals can influence DEIJAB in the profession and the benefits of staying connected to your professional association for diverse and inclusive leadership.

Watch Occupational therapy in color: Looking back and moving momentum forward over 50 years

The DEIJAB section wrapped up with moderated panels on the historical impact of the Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) community in occupational therapy schools and the necessary progression for more diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices in academia, the recognition of the 50-year anniversary of Howard University University’s Occupational Therapy Program and the National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus.

Facilitator: Andre Johnson, OTS, COTA/L
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), Chairperson of the AOTA Commission on Education

Howard University Occupational Therapy Program:
Felecia Banks, PhD, M.Ed, OTR/L
Chairperson and Associate Professor, Howard University

National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus: 
Lisa Simmons, MS, OTR/L
Director of Master of Occupational Therapy, Trinity Washington University; NBOTC Secretary

Retaining faculty of color at Predominantly White Institutions:
Regina Sims Wright, PhD
Associate Dean, Diversity & Inclusion, Professor, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware

Mellissa Gordon, PhD
Associate Professor, Education & Human Development, University of Delaware; S&G Evidence-based Diversity Solutions

Watch Gender affirming care: Client care & practice resources

This session featured a moderated panel discussion on gender affirming care and the newly developed AOTA resources. The panel should address the question of what is missing from our training/gaps and why is it important across disciplines.  

Facilitator & panelist: Bri Guillory, OTS
Boston University, former AOTA Capstone Student

Jack Kleine, MOT, OTD, OTR/L

Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for Level I, Samuel Merritt University

Adam Steuer, DHSc, OTR/L, CLT

Assistant Professor, DePaul University

Watch Spotlight on Consortium of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Interdisciplinary Rehab Programs (CHIRP)

The Consortium of HBCU Interdisciplinary Rehab Programs (CHIRP) is a comprehensive interdisciplinary network of evidence-based research initiatives supported by academic rehab programs to address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion that impact health and health outcomes among racial, cultural, and ethnic groups.

Delvin Champagne, MSHE, CHES, COTA/L, ATP
Assistive Technology Program Manager (ATP), Reasonable Accommodations, USDA; Occupational Therapy Practitioner/Co-Owner, Beltway Rehab Pros, LLC; Advocacy Chair, District of Columbia Occupational Therapy Association

Felecia Banks, PhD, M.Ed, OTR/L

Chairperson and Associate Professor, Howard University

Watch: From student to leader: Paving your career journey & diversifying the profession

This is a moderated conversation to address the ways the next generation of students and new professionals can influence DEIJAB in the profession and focus on the benefit of staying connected to your professional association for diverse and inclusive leadership.  

Facilitator: Nancy Yamoah, OTR/L

Sharaya Hill, OTD/S

Washington University in St. Louis, Vice Chair, AOTA Assembly of Student Delegates Steering Community (ASDSC)

Cristina Reyes Smith, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Chair, College of Health Professions Faculty Assembly, Associate Professor and Director of Admissions, Division of Occupational Therapy, MUSC College of Health Professions

Courtney Weaver, OTS

University of South Alabama

Attendees were provided opportunities to network and brainstorm with peers and industry leaders to build momentum for the future of the occupational therapy profession, culminating in workgroups on alternative payment models, AOTA resources, disability services, diversifying the profession, socially responsive ethical decision making, and technology.

Attendees were provided opportunities to network and brainstorm with peers and industry leaders to build momentum for the future of the occupational therapy profession, culminating in workgroups on alternative payment models, AOTA resources, disability services, diversifying the profession, socially responsive ethical decision making, and technology.

Day 2 of the Summit opened with a welcome address by AOTA President Alyson Stover and our continued focus on propelling the profession of occupational therapy forward.

Dr. Ganesh Babulal offered the morning spotlight presentation focused on the centrality of IADL science in occupational therapy. He described his work using the complex IADL of driving and its application as a biomarker to predict early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in community dwelling older adults.

The morning proceeded with a rapid-fire style panel highlighting a variety of trending opportunities for occupational therapy shared by AOTA Federal Policy and Regulatory staff as well as exemplars from key government partners.

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) staff spoke of the alternative funding demonstration program known as the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model to improve dementia care for Medicare beneficiaries. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) staff discussed the key role occupational therapy plays in the Older Americans Home Modification Program (OAHMP).

• Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) staff shared occupational therapy's efforts to improve behavioral health and provide gender affirming care across the VA health system.
• Staff from the District of Columbia Office of Policy, Planning & Innovation highlighted opportunities for occupational therapy as they described their "Technology First" Initiative to optimize independence and support community living for adults with developmental disabilities.

The robust discourse and networking continued into the afternoon with breakout sessions to explore moving ideas to action!

Day 2 panelists

Watch IADL science: We knew that before… OT contributing to early diagnoses

Ganesh M. Babulal, PhD, OTD, MSCI, MOT
Associate Professor and Principal Investigator & Director of The DRIVES Project, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine

Watch Practice opportunities: Innovative community-based models & contexts

Federal updates - Heather Parsons, VP, AOTA Federal Affairs

Regulatory updates - Kim Karr, Manager, AOTA Coding & Payment Policy

GUIDE CMMI dementia initiative - Sage Hart, JD, Health Insurance Specialist, CMMI, Co-Model Lead for the GUIDE Model

HUD OAHMP - Dr. Taneka Blue, OTR/L, CAPS, Government Technical Representative (Older Adult Home Modification Grant), Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control

VA priorities and initiatives - Frederica O’Donnell, OTD, OTR/L, National Occupational Therapy Discipline Lead, VHA Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services

DC - Tech First Initiative, Donald Clark, Program Development Specialist, Office of Policy, Planning & Innovation, Department on Disability Services

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PelvicTech

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Watch Spotlight sponsor: Pelvic Tech