Bay Path students pursuing their master’s degrees in occupational therapy showcased project concepts developed for their course, 'Practice Settings,' at an interactive display held last week at Bay Path’s Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center in East Longmeadow.
The students brought their ideas to life through displays that showcased innovative programming and resources designed to provide occupational therapy in community-based settings, as opposed to the medical model of care typically practiced in hospitals or care centers.
Working in groups, students presented the facility designs and programming concepts they’d developed to address specific populations and the challenges they face. New Beginnings, a program created by Maickel Gerges and Kerolos Gerges aims to support individuals living with HIV/AIDS and mental health disorders by embedding the program in a homeless shelter and providing job skills training, financial literacy workshops, and outings to community jobs fairs.
Aging with Connection and Care, created by Riley O’Connor and Carly Smith addresses sexuality and intimacy for adults aged 65 and over who may face challenges to relationships and sexual health due to age-related changes by providing adaptive strategies and ergonomic modifications in a comfortable, private setting.
Combat to Community was created by Julia DePalma, Jordan Halgas, and Olivia Wright to help recently discharged veterans who have undergone a combat-related upper extremity amputation transition back to civilian life through a wilderness program that uses nature to promote mental healing and physical resilience.
The projects are part of the MOT curriculum and are completed shortly before the students finish their academics and leave campus to engage in two different full-time clinical placements, which allow students to work across settings and consider their preferred specialization. For Olivia Wright, the opportunity to serve veterans is a longtime goal, “Occupational therapy was created to care for veterans,” she noted. “And yet, when it comes to thinking about new ways to support them, they’re underserved.”
“We always challenge our learners to try to expand the breadth of possibilities for ways that OTs can practice and the options for the physical environment where they can do so,” explained Dr. Kimberly Henrichon, OTD, the Practice Settings instructor. “We asked students to imagine an ideal setting for their work and then design it, and these projects really show how thoughtful and passionate they are about serving their communities.”
Please visit the Master of Occupational Therapy program page to learn about curriculum, faculty, program options, and more!
