On this episode, our guest is Jo Southall, Occupational Therapist and Patient Advocate. Jo is an Independent Occupational Therapist and an expert patient with many years of experience self-managing complex health conditions. Jo began working life in the sport and Outdoor Adventure industries. After being diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Jo returned to study and gained a BSc degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Northampton. Jo was named Changemaker Student of the Year for 2016 in connection with their work in helping to bring wheelchair basketball to the university, their volunteer work with the Hypermobility Syndromes Association in the UK (HMSA) and writing their blog about their own experiences and practice. Jo's final placement also made her the UK’s first Occupational Therapist to work in the travel and tourism industry. Jo is also a pioneer in remote placement work as well.

Jo completed her degree in September 2016 after 5 years, thousands of miles of travel, 57 nights in 4 different hospitals, 5 different A&Es (some more than once), 4 ambulance trips, countless hospital and GP appointments, 3 work placements, living in student accommodation, hotels and friends’ houses.

Jo has been self employed working via videochat since obtaining qualification and they continue to volunteer for the HMSA. Jo is also on the medical advisory board for the HMSA. Jo's regular Occupational Therapy work consists mainly of 1:1 appointments with clients and their loved ones. Jo is a regular guest lecturer and leads webinars and training sessions both in the UK and abroad. Recently, Jo started down the Practice Educator route and you can find out more about that in their Practice Educator Diary (link below).

Links:

https://jboccupationaltherapy.co.uk/

https://jboccupationaltherapy.co.uk/category/occupational-therapy/practice-educator-diary/

https://www.instagram.com/jboccytherapy/?hl=en

Jo Southall on The Rest Room Podcast: Pacing: A guide for people who’d rather be doing other things on Apple Podcasts, available at: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pacing-a-guide-for-people-whod-rather-be-doing-other-things/id1218852479?i=1000550501384

(This is the first episode in a series)

Jo Southall's Youtube channel available at: https://www.youtube.com/@JBOccyTherapy

Jo Southall on workplace adjustments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yjyuGfxTY8

Jo Southall on occupational therapy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NnWsZszG6g

Article on the "Siberian Ice Princess" Mummified Remains:

D.I. Abrams, M.D., Integrating Cannabis Into Clinical Care, Curr. Oncol. 2016, available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4791148/ (see introduction)