University of Missouri, Dept. of Occupational Therapy: BHS-OTA

Assistant Clinical Professor

MY WHY:

Occupational Therapy is the best of all things healthcare.
OT Practitioners (OTP) have to be creative, passionate, driven, and a CONSTANT problem solver. OTPs get to truly know one's patients and their passions, and they make those passions possible.

As a course instructor for the University of Missouri's Bachelor of Health Science-Occupational Therapy Assistant program, I hope to help shape future occupational therapy practitioners to be well-equipped clinicians with exceptional clinical competence. I aim to do this by demonstrating a high moral, ethical and professional character, emphasizing the importance of client-centered, evidence based care.

Please see the images and description below that outline experiential learning
implemented in the courses that I instruct.

Learn more about MU's BHS-OTA Here

Hands-On Learning

I strive to immerse the University of Missouri Bachelor of Occupational Therapy Assistant students in opportunities that will prepare them to exceed expectations during fieldwork experiences and facilitate success as clinical practitioners.

The Class of 2024 students observed several University of Missouri Healthcare System ICUs. This is a unique experience that allows students to see different lines, leads, ventilation systems, lifts, and medical equipment, as well as the interdisciplinary teamwork that occurs in high-acuity situations and medical facilities.

Adult Rehabilitation

In the OTA Practice in Physical Rehabilitation course, students participate in weekly hands-on learning and labs. These labs include splinting with a content expert, opportunities to work with a prosthetist to learn about the prosthesis process and scope of OT in prosthetic management. Additionally, students review and participate in rehabilitation best practice for multiple diagnoses. These learned experiences are challenged through role plays, which require peer feedback and experienced feedback from the course instructor and OTA faculty.

It is important to allow students the opportunity to "fail" in a safe environment in order to learn from mistakes. Through these courses and others, students develop professional identity, including professional behaviors of giving and receiving feedback.

Experiential Learning & Collaboration

Within the Occupational Therapy Department at the University of Missouri, OT and OTA collaboration is key to developing strong practitioners prepared to collaborate in an interprofessional and intra-professional manner.

It is important that OTA students learn to advocate for themselves, the OTA role, and the profession. OTA students are allowed the opportunity to share their expertise in areas with Occupational Therapy Doctorate students, including education on the role and scope of the OTA and OTA students provide additional labs outside of class time to lead OTD students in transfer training (under the supervision of faculty). Furthermore, OTA students participate in Inter-Professional Education experiences with other healthcare professions within the MU College of Health Sciences.