Recap: AOTA's Momentum Summit III
The Momentum Summit is an annual gathering of OT practitioners in various practice settings that aims to progress the profession by broadening awareness of diverse and innovative ideas in OT. While most attendees are OTs and OTAs, students comprise an important audience base. Students are the future of the profession, making it important to make student voices heard by having a presence at the table, learning from leaders in the field, and creating opportunities for mentorship and networking within the profession. This year, AOTA initiated a program to sponsor student ambassadors to attend the conference and be our mouthpiece and ears.
Claudia Ezeani, OTS, said attending AOTA’s Momentum Summit extended beyond her personal growth. In her words, “one piece of inspiration I took away from attending the AOTA Momentum Summit is that it is crucial to show up and take up space. At every level, student, professor, or professional, our voice matters, and using our voice may ignite a change, inspire others, or speak up for communities that may not be able to speak for themselves. Through each of us, someone feels represented by our voice, culture, or even how we look. We must create a seat at the table for ourselves, to be involved in and engage in big conversations because what we have to say matters.” Whether you’re a new student or almost a new graduate, showing up is half the work. This statement highlights that you matter and you are a future advocate for yourself and your clients.
Other key takeaways that our ambassadors wanted to share include the importance of establishing mentorship, asking questions, being mindful of the language you use to communicate with each member of the care team effectively, and being patient to see results in therapy.
In addition to advice, the ambassadors summarized several lectures to share with you.
Keynote: “Rise Together!”
Momentum Summit III opening speaker, Iseluleko Ma'at El O, brought an inspirational and motivating message to all occupational therapy professionals, challenging us to create momentum and rise together!
Iseluleko Ma'at El O, is the founder of The Divine Man: Men's Self-Mastery Program. He’s an Emmy Award winner and inspirational speaker who has appeared in hundreds of TV shows, commercials, voice overs, and films--opposite other major stars such as Will Smith, Keifer Sutherland, Martin Lawrence, Eric Roberts, Danny Trejo, and others--spanning his 20+ year entertainment career. At the conference, he shared the wisdom he's gathered from his diverse life experiences by teaching male youth how to live with moral excellence, proper values, and sacred life principles that heal and strengthen families worldwide.
This theme, "rise," was threaded throughout the Summit as a call to action to create spaces and opportunities for occupational therapy in innovative practice settings.
“Summit Conversations: The Rise of Men in OT”
In this session, Charles Jeffers II; Delvin Champagne, MSHE, CHES, COTA/L, ATP; Roger Ideishi, JD, OT/L, FAOTA; and Vikram Pagpatan EdD, OTR/L, joined forces to address one of the biggest elephants in the rooms of OT practitioners. These gentlemen bravely discussed how men, especially marginalized men, lack representation in the field. They began by mentioning that as OT practitioners, a diverse group of people are served under your care. The lack of representation can affect how clients receive care if they don't see people who may look like or relate to them. Another point that stood out to me was making the field more attractive to prospective students at an earlier age to actively aid in diversity efforts for the field. Something unique about this session was that it not only addressed barriers and issues, but they also offered proactive solutions to these issues as well.
“From Student to Leader: Paving Your Career Journey & Diversifying the Profession”
In this session, Sharaya Hill, OTD/S; Cristina Reyes Smith, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA; and Courtney Weaver, OTS, unpacked the importance of DEIJAB and how it falls into the journey from student to leader in the field of OT. DEIJAB addresses the ability of students and practitioners to be heard and show up in spaces to stimulate small changes within the field. This session also highlights the importance of checking unconscious biases and having certain uncomfortable conversations to deliver client-centered care to the person, group, and population. The speakers emphasized being open minded and okay with not knowing something but also demonstrating the mindset of a lifelong learner.
“Technology Spotlight: OT’s Evolving Role in AI Development”
As technology evolves daily, it has become more prevalent in the medical space to solve new problems. Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an advanced tool to efficiently aid in many situations. AI aims to simplify, adapt, reason, and solve issues. The utilization of AI in occupational therapy has had profound results in improving the overall effectiveness of therapy. For example, AI in OT can help create personalized treatment plans based on a patient’s data. AI can also assess and help diagnose patients by examining their conditions through pictures, videos, and sensor data to identify specifics. AI is changing the world of medicine as we know it and improving everyday lives through its wide potential.
“Gender Affirming Care: Client Care and Practice Resources”
Gender-affirming care is very important as it includes daily tasks that impact patients physically, mentally, and emotionally. Occupational therapy can assist in gender-affirming care by offering tailored strategies to provide them with gender-affirming routines and safety while combating gender dysphoria. Occupational therapy practitioners can aid in promoting safety in care with tasks such as binding, toileting, post-surgery care, and inclusion practices. For example, many who identify as transgender undergo gender dysphoria. Therefore, they practice daily tasks to help them combat those feelings, such as chest binding. This practice can become dangerous if not done correctly under the supervision of a medical professional, like an OT practitioner. Occupational therapy plays a big role in gender-affirming care and should be included in all aspects of learning to promote inclusion everywhere. Mental health is a big part of why gender-affirming care is so important, as one’s physical state may correlate to affecting one's mental health. Gender identities vary and are an inherent aspect of one’s experience, affecting everyday lives and occupations.
“Trending Practice Opportunities: Integrative Health: Pelvic Health, Women’s Health, Maternal Health: oh my!”
Occupational therapy plays a significant role in pelvic health, women's health, and maternal health. It involves advocating, raising awareness, and addressing barriers for pregnant individuals. It aims to reduce the burden of care, decrease mortality rates, minimize readmissions, and provide education on essential bodily functions. Many women, particularly those from low-income communities or immigrants, face challenges related to insurance coverage and insufficient funds for pregnancy-related care. While there are some gaps in understanding between different health care professionals, bridging these gaps through improved communication and knowledge exchange is crucial. Occupational therapy practitioners can effectively address these gaps by offering additional services before discharge and developing more programs. It is equally important to consider the impact of motherhood on clients' roles, habits, routines, and overall occupational performance. This panel discussion on women's pelvic health was enlightening, and I am eagerly anticipating future panels on this subject.
“Occupational Therapy in Color: Looking Back and Moving Momentum Forward Over 50 Years”
This panel, facilitated by Andre Johnson, OTS, COTA/L, Chairperson of AOTA's Commission on Education, spotlighted the 50-year anniversary milestone of the Howard University Occupational Therapy Program, represented by Felecia Banks, PhD, MEd, OTR/L; and the National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus with Riqiea Kitchens, PhD, OTR, BCPR, CSRS. The panel also focused on retaining faculty of color at predominantly White institutions with Regina Sims Wright, PhD; and Mellissa Gordon, PhD, S&G Diversity Solutions, and included a question-and-answer segment focused on diversity within the occupational therapy field, specifically regarding Black Americans. The participants expressed their excitement at being part of a diverse community of occupational therapy practitioners and highlighted the profession's continued growth. This growth can be attributed to effective marketing, advocacy efforts, and educating others about occupational therapy's impact on improving clients' occupational performance. The panelists also emphasized the importance of having a mentor, not just for students but also for seasoned occupational therapy practitioners. Regardless of one's career level or experience, having a personal guide can be beneficial in enhancing skills and knowledge, ultimately leading to becoming a better practitioner. Overall, this panel provided intriguing insights into the diversity of the occupational therapy profession.
Momentum Summit is one of many conferences that AOTA hosts for students and practitioners, and each one carries value and important education. Stay updated on upcoming conferences on AOTA's website and social media, and stay tuned for recaps in the OT Student Pulse!
Special thanks to Momentum Summit ambassadors:
- Claudia Ezeani, OTS, Howard University
- Deandra Clarke, OTS, Delaware State University
- Destiny Halsey, OTAS, Trinity University
- Jamal Smith OTS, COTA/L, Howard University
- Nia Francois, OT/S, Trinity University
- Traci Szoke, OTS, George Washington University.