Live to help others achieve.
Do you see yourself as a compassionate, resourceful and energetic person who would enjoy helping people live fuller lives?
Do you have good communication skills?
Are you a good listener and observer able to pick up on verbal and non-verbal cues that others may be sharing?
Are you creative in finding new ways to solve problems?
If so, you should know about occupational therapy. Occupational therapists help people participate more fully in life at home, school, work and play—at every age and any ethnic and socioeconomic background.
Occupational therapists are adaptive and creative healthcare professionals who focus on the ability of their clients to acquire functional skills. Daily living skills needed to engage in meaningful activities may include self-care (dressing, feeding oneself), work, school, leisure and community pursuits. Therapists may suggest assistive technology to improve routine daily tasks. Because many of these activities occur in a diverse world, occupational therapists emphasize an awareness and respect of cultural and individual differences.
Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, homes, school systems, nursing homes and a multitude of community settings. In addition, emerging practice specialties such as ergonomics, low vision interventions, driving training and assessment, environmental accessibility and health and wellness promotion are becoming increasingly popular venues in which therapists may work. Advanced practitioners also participate in education, research and public policy development on local, regional and national levels. Because the field is so diverse, you can work in large cities, small towns and rural environments.
Regardless of the practice environment, occupational therapists help people facing all types of physical, cognitive and mental health challenges, especially when those challenges affect the ability to function fully in daily life.
Paula Bohr, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Director, Occupational Therapy Program
AB Academic Center 1255
Website: http://www.maryville.edu/academics-hp-occtherapy. htm
• Freshman entry
• Community-based focus prepares our students to practice in a variety of clinical and community settings
• Faculty/student collaboration in designing individual fieldwork experiences
• Innovative fieldwork opportunities including experiences outside the United States
• Focus on developing professional behaviors and clinical reasoning skills that set our students apart in the job market
• Evidence-based research forms the foundation for practice
• Engaged learning consisting of interactive learning opportunities, demonstrations, lecture, hands-on experience, field trips to clinical and community facilities and online tools to facilitate learning and mentoring by faculty
• 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) HS or College GPA
• 21 ACT Composite (unless applicant has completed at least 30 hours of college credits)
• Completion of an on-campus interview and writing sample
• A resume that includes at least one reference with contact information