Once Upon OT

In this episode, I have a conversation with Teresa Cao OTR/L who shares about her Occupational Therapy Fellowship in greater detail from NICU rotations, experience with feeding and swallowing, interprofessional collaboration & much more!

Teresa also highlights the importance of cultural relevancy in healthcare and actionable steps we can do to impact the quality of our client-centered care as occupational therapy practitioners.

Timestamps:

(04:03) Reflecting on Occupational Therapy School Experience 

(07:47) Teresa’s Fieldwork Rotations

(10:14) How did fieldwork 2 shape your decision to practice in a certain setting or with a particular population?

(12:11) If you could go back to your first day as an occupational therapy student, what might you tell yourself?

(15:00) What was your first job like as an OT in the Sensory Integration clinic?

(19:34) What Teresa appreciates about OT

(20:28) What is an OT Fellowship? | Feeding & Eating, Autism, LEND & more

(29:50) The story behind "acupofrehab" on Instagram

(36:00) Cultural Relevancy in Healthcare

(41:40) "Client" vs "Patient"

(43:20) What we can do as OT practitioners

(44:12) The need for diverse occupational therapy practitioners

(48:38) The Backbones to Becoming a Clinical Occupational Therapist

Follow Teresa Cao on IG:

(@acupofrehab)

https://www.instagram.com/acupofrehab/

https://www.instagram.com/acupofrehab/

https://www.instagram.com/acupofrehab/

~check out~

Occupational Therapy Journal | Fieldwork Reflection Guide, Graduation Gift for OT Students, New Grad Survival Journal, Backbones to OT

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1653064845/occupational-therapy-journal-fieldwork?click_key=a2800c495560fae48163ea2fb6288ed8ae1d96f7%3A1653064845&click_sum=14008e01&ref=shop_home_active_1&pro=1

In this episode, I meet Sara Emira, a current MSc Occupational Therapy Student at the University of Toronto. We compare and contrast the similarities and differences between our OT program experiences in Canada & the US.

We also discuss Sara's unique fieldwork experience in forensic mental health, long term goals as an OT practitioner & much more!

You can follow along her OT journey on insta (@Egyptian.OT)

https://www.instagram.com/egyptian.ot/

https://www.instagram.com/egyptian.ot/

https://www.instagram.com/egyptian.ot/

In this episode, I chat with Michael Kim OTR/L - a friend I made during AOTA Conference and catch up about their current occupational therapy journey - starting their first day on the job in inpatient rehab. Michael also shares about his OT school experience, fieldwork 2 rotations in inpatient psych and inpatient rehab, and his top study tips to prepare for the NBCOT exam!

Follow along the Once Upon OT insta for updates :)

https://www.instagram.com/once_upon_ot/

https://www.instagram.com/once_upon_ot/

https://www.instagram.com/once_upon_ot/

In this episode, I catch up with Jhennylyn Rivera (also known as @jhennyberryot on insta!)

https://www.instagram.com/jhennyberryot/

We talk about current OT life updates, imposter syndrome, importance of OT state association, outpatient peds, in-home early intervention, and pursuit of a post professional OTD :)

...& much more!

In this episode, I talk with Dhielan about his physical therapy journey! Even though my podcast has a focus on occupational therapy experiences, I believe it's important to be aware and learn more about our interprofessional team members and their roles/approaches to care as well

Follow "Dill" on TikTok :)

https://www.tiktok.com/@dill.boostos

https://www.tiktok.com/@dill.boostos

https://www.tiktok.com/@dill.boostos

Timestamps:

(01:13) How did you discover physical therapy?

(02:45) Other career considerations early on : nursing & medical field

(5:33) What was PT school like?

(08:28) What clinical rotations did you have during your PT program?

(09:39) Clinical rotation in Inpatient Neuro Rehab

(11:39) What piece of advice would you give a current physical/occupational therapy student right now going through a difficult time in school?

(14:32) What is the PT version of the NBCOT exam? How did you prepare?

(16:24) Dhielan’s TOP study tips to prepare for NPTE

(19:00) - Dhielan’s Occupational Therapy PITCH! (from a PT’s perspective)

(21:36) Discussing OT & PT in our work settings - inpatient rehab

(23:31) Job search as a new grad & importance of mentorship

(26:00) Negotiating salary as a new grad & interviewing tips

(28:20) What is something you wish you knew as a new grad physical therapist? Advice for someone starting their 1st day of work on Monday.

(29:50) Pros & cons, roses and thorns, while working in the inpatient rehab setting (IPR)

(33:38) The tricky balance of physical therapy treatment, morning ADLs, occupational therapy, nursing, scheduling/time management & working on patient’s goals

(36:29) How do you feel as a PT with 1 year of experience - imposter syndrome or not?

(38:43) The day Dhielan FELT like a physical therapist 

(40:38) What is next? PT aspirations, plans & goals in the future

(43:39) ~ BONUS LIGHTNING ROUND ~

In this episode, I chat with Curtis about his occupational therapy school experience, comparing OT fieldwork with being a new grad OT, and also the motivation behind the "brOT_Brain" podcast & insta

Check out these links!:

podcast : https://open.spotify.com/show/5ZKu6BYlXGam4D7C8K4AMc?si=0b6dce282e274f1e

insta: https://www.instagram.com/brot_brain/

New York meets California - Meeting the OT Community!

In this episode, we get to meet Kim Ben who recently graduated from their occupational therapy program. This is my first time formally getting to know Kim after we discovered each other's OT accounts on instagram

https://www.instagram.com/otdocben/ (Kim)

https://www.instagram.com/once_upon_ot/ (me)

the OT world is truly so small!

In this fun conversation we discuss Kim's early interest in occupational therapy, the OT program experience, fieldwork 2 rotations in outpatient pediatrics and a skilled nursing facility (SNF), and now currently tackling the big NBCOT exam.

Timestamps:

(2:17) Kim’s Occupational Therapy Story

(5:37) Personal interests, hobbies & connections to OT

(8:02) Why did you choose your OT program?

(11:38) Favorite OT class & LEAST favorite OT class

(13:20) What OT looks like on the surface vs knowing what’s actually going on in the OT brain

(14:53) Diving deeper into Kim’s fieldwork 2 experiences - Outpatient Pediatrics & Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)

(20:22) Was there a moment when you FELT like a whole occupational therapist?

(26:13) How are you approaching the NBCOT? Kim’s Prep & mentality

(29:25) If a current OT student is struggling…

(33:38) BONUS Lightning Round (Q&A)

In this episode, I chat with Sami Wong, a recent OT new grad with one more fieldwork rotation to go! We talk about the OT school experience, fieldwork 2 and lessons learned along the way ... plus much much more!

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Timestamps:

(1:20) Sami's Story with Occupational Therapy

(2:37) What would you tell someone interested in OT?

(3:55) Early experiences with OT & interest in Women's Health

(6:17) Sami's OT program experience

(8:46) Favorite class during occupational therapy school?

(10:21) LEAST favorite class in OT school?

(11:14) Any cool opportunities & experiences through your OT program? (Service Learning Trip in Morocco!)

(16:07) Fieldwork 2 experience in a shelter/supportive housing system

(19:10) Memorable moment(s) during fieldwork 2 where you felt like a WHOLE occupational therapist

(23:39) What's next for you on the OT journey?

(25:18) If a current OT student is listening right now and is struggling with their fieldwork rotation... what might you tell them?

(29:20) **BONUS LIGHTNING ROUND**

Follow along the occupational therapy journey on Instagram! :)

https://www.instagram.com/once_upon_ot/

In this episode, I reflect on my first and recent experience handling a fall in the workplace. As a new grad OT, this initially made me feel discouraged and defeated... but we try our best each day and learn from our sincere mistakes.

In this episode, Lauren and I reconnect and chat about the many phases of becoming an occupational therapy practitioner.

This episode covers advice/perspectives for prospective OT students, current OT students, and new grad occupational therapists like myself... as well as conversations about school-based OT, applying for jobs, and CEUs & much more!

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Timestamps:

(1:28) Lauren’s Occupational Therapy Story

(3:34) What experiences led you to practicing in school-based OT?

(6:20) What was the job search like for you as a new grad OT? | JOB HUNTING IN 2020?

(10:21) What advice would you give to someone starting their first new grad OT job this Monday?

(12:13) What does a typical day look like for you as a school-based occupational therapist?

(14:14) Managing Documentation

(15:55) Favorite interventions/activities as a school-based OT

(18:32) What are some of your favorite aspects of the job, with your role as an occupational therapist?

(19:45) What does your OT future look like?

(21:19) How does it feel to be an occupational therapist with 4 years of experience?

(23:06) Continuing ED

(25:02) What would you tell someone who is interested In OT?

(26:55) What would you tell someone who was accepted to OT school and starting their program soon?

(28:18) Lauren's message to students currently in their fieldwork 2 placement

(30:00) Giving Lauren flowers!

(31:40) Tackling imposter syndrome & difficult times as an OT student

(33:51) **BONUS** Lightning Round

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Follow along my OT journey on Instagram (@once_upon_ot) https://www.instagram.com/once_upon_ot/