Key Takeaways From Experienced Practitioners at the ASD Spring 2024 Tri-Annual
The Assembly of Student Delegates (ASD) representatives are elected students within their occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs across the country. These delegates come together three times a year virtually, and once in person, to discuss relevant topics in occupational therapy and Student Occupational Therapy Associations (SOTAs) nationwide. During our Spring Tri-Annual meeting, a panel of five practitioners shared personal experiences with switching practice settings and the ways in which they grew as new practitioners.
The five panelists consisted of four OTs and one OTA from across the country. They practice in various settings from general medicine, skilled nursing facilities, home health, mental health, early intervention, schools, hospitals, and even internationally. One practitioner became the OT Association Vice President of their state association and an AOTA Volunteer Leadership Development Committee Member. Another ended up becoming an AOTA Program Manager. They are all far along in their careers, with as much as 38+ years of experience, and were excited to share their unique journey through OT.
Here are some key takeaways from the meeting:
It is okay not to know everything; you are never completely alone!
The diverse group of panelists emphasized not to put pressure on yourselves, especially when first entering the field. As a new practitioner, it can feel overwhelming. You may have imposter syndrome, or feel that you need to know everything about all diagnoses. An essential highlight from the meeting was learning that professional development occurs throughout your career. Some panelists briefly spoke about their experience being the only practitioner in rural parts of the country. They expressed the importance of AOTA’s CommunOT platform as a useful tool to ask questions and receive feedback from practitioners across the country when you need advice, with an anonymous feature for those who may be intimidated or have privacy concerns.
Don’t be afraid to try a new practice setting, and don’t forget your work-life balance!
It can feel worrisome going into the field not knowing what practice setting you prefer. Many of the experienced clinicians mentioned that they never expected to end up loving the setting they explored. Many found themselves bouncing around many different settings to figure out what path to take after graduating. This experience encouraged them to take new opportunities and try a practice setting they never thought they would like to experience. When deciding on a new job or practice setting, take into account who you are as a practitioner, what your needs are in a place of employment, and how this opportunity will impact your work-life balance. The panelists explained that you can always reach out to the potential site, other OT practitioners in the area, CommunOT, or even AOTA staff. Be open to new opportunities, and the process can lead you to great experiences!
The AOTA website can be a great resource!
The panelists expressed the importance of remaining an active member at the state and national levels. These organizations can be beneficial in many ways. The experienced practitioners discussed how they use the AOTA website for professional development through continuing education, micro-credentials, and continuing education foundation badges. They benefited from evidence-based practice and knowledge translation, peer-reviewed research, and information on coding and billing. The Communities of Practice also can provide in-depth information on acute care, critical illness recovery, and other practice settings. Getting involved as a student provides opportunities to network that may have the potential to land you a job!
The Spring Tri-Annual meeting provided a great deal of information and motivational advice from these professionals. The panelists provided helpful resources and tips for navigating a career in OT. These words of encouragement can help students go into the field with confidence and with the tools to face any situation in fieldwork and as new practitioners.
Mya-Ann Tschopp, OTS, is an OT student at New York Institute of Technology. She is an ASD Steering Committee member, NYSOTA Student Delegate, and a member of the OT Student Pulse team. She has OT areas of interests in neurology and physical rehabilitation. Her hobbies are reading, spending time with friends and family, and binge watching tv shows.