the gO geTters podcast: Influencing Occupational Therapy Practice Through Leadership Skills

What does it really mean to create a healthcare environment where people feel like they belong? Hollis, Lexie, McKenzie, Alivia, and Peyton explore equity, belonging, and inclusive healthcare through the lens of leadership and occupational therapy. Joined by Dr. Letitia Gaither-Davis, they discuss implicit bias, access to care, patient-centered practice, and the difference between simply recognizing diversity and actively practicing inclusion. This episode challenges us to look beyond who is in the room and consider whether everyone truly has a voice.

Dunbar-Smiley, S., & Winston, K. (2022). An occupational perspective on leadership: Theoretical and practical dimensions. 3rd edition. Slack Incorporated.

Johnson, K. R., Hamed, R., Banks, T. M., & Washington, S. (2025). Diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, accessibility, and belonging in occupational therapy practice and education. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79(2).
https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2025.051211

Serrano-Diaz, C. R., Scanlan, J. N., & Monrouxe, L. V. (2025). Occupational therapy
practitioners’ and students’ experiences of diversity, equity, and inclusion: An
international scoping review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79(2),
7902180070. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2025.050838

Vilokkinen, V., Kuha, S., Vuorivirta-Vuoti, E., Miettunen, J., & Kanste, O. (2026). Exploring individual and organisational factors related to inclusive leadership among healthcare professionals: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 82(7), 7126–7139. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.70431

Wasmuth, S., Bravata, D., & Miech, E. (2025). Difference-making conditions for the successful implementation of IDEAS: A provider stigma-reduction training for and by occupational therapy practitioners. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79(5). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2025.051085

What makes a team feel safe enough to speak up? Ashley, Bella, Gracie, Keith, Megan, and Taylor explore psychological safety and its impact on leadership, teamwork, patient advocacy, and growth. Featuring insight from Maria Weil, Director of Physician Recruitment and Onboarding at Conway Regional, along with real fieldwork experiences and a few surprisingly impressive podcast sponsors, this episode challenges us to consider the environments we create for our patients, colleagues, and teams.

Grailey, K. E., Murray, E., Reader, T., & Brett, S. J. (2021). The presence and potential impact of psychological safety in the healthcare setting: An evidence synthesis. BMC Health Services Research, 21, 773.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06740-6

LaPlante, R. D., Reid Ponte, P., & Magny-Normilus, C. (2025). Essential elements and outcomes of psychological safety in the healthcare practice setting: A systematic review. Applied Nursing Research, 83, 151946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2025.151946 

Montgomery, A., Chalili, V., Lainidi, O., Mouratidis, C., Maliousis, I., Paitaridou, K., & Leary, A. (2025). Psychological safety and patient safety: A systematic and narrative review. PLOS One, 20(4). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322215

Nelson, T. M. (2024). The dance of leadership and followership. In Dunbar, S. B. & Winston, K. (Eds.), An occupational perspective on leadership: Theoretical and practical dimensions. (3rd ed., pp. 151-166). Taylor & Francis. 

The Class of 2027 kicks off the Go-Getters Podcast with Elle, AubrieKate, Lani, Addie, Celia, and Hannah exploring how communication and emotional intelligence build trust in healthcare. Through fieldwork experiences, conversations with healthcare professionals, and a powerful real-world case, they examine self-awareness, empathy, emotional regulation, therapeutic use of self, and psychological safety. Most importantly, they remind us that effective leadership isn’t just about what you know. It’s about reading the room, understanding how others experience you, and creating space for every voice to be heard. Leadership starts in the session.

Andonian, L. (2017). Emotional intelligence: An opportunity for occupational therapy. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 33(4), 299–307.
https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2017.1328649

Cavaness, K., Picchioni, A., & Fleshman, J. W. (2020). Linking emotional intelligence to successful health care leadership: The Big Five model of personality. Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery, 33(4), 195–203. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1709435

Godall, G. G. (2018, April). How emotional intelligence makes leaders more impactful [Video].TEDConferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/gemma_garcia_godall_how_emotional_intelligence_makes_leaders_more_impactful 

Harvard Division of Continuing Education. (2025). How to improve your emotional Intelligence. Professional & Executive Development.
https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-improve-your-emotional-intelligence/#Research-Reveals-Barriers-to-SelfAwareness

Mental Health America. (2026, April 8). What Is Emotional Intelligence and How Does It Apply to the Workplace?. Mental Health America.
https://mhanational.org/resources/what-is-emotional-intelligence-and-how-does-it-apply-to-the-workplace/

OpenAI. (2026). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com.

Powell, C., Brown, T., Yap, Y., Hallam, K., Takac, M., Quinlivan, T., Xenos, S., & Karimi, L. (2024). Emotional intelligence training among the healthcare workforce: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1437035.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1437035

TEDX Talks. (2025, June 6). The exponential power of emotional intelligence | Patrice Borders [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKz5yDACdU4

Winston, K. & Kent, B. B. K. (2022). The kawa model: An exploration of communication and leadership. In Dunbar-Smalley, S., & Winston, K. (Eds). An Occupational Perspective on Leadership (3rd ed., pp. 122-136). Taylor & Francis.
https://uca-bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781040142226

In this season finale, Allie, Colby, Madison, Callie, and Maisy take on adaptability, resiliency, and visionary change—the highest form of leadership. Featuring insight from Dr. Rett Matthews (OTD ’23), now a district-level leader, this episode explores what it takes to not just manage change but truly transform through it. Listeners will hear how resilience isn’t something we’re handed—it’s something we build through experience and effort. With research showing these traits are both essential and most often lacking in healthcare, this discussion challenges future leaders to stay adaptable, stay inspired, and keep leading forward.

Clark, F., Jackson, J., Carlson, M., Chou, C.-P., Cherry, B. J., Jordan-Marsh, M., Knight, B. G., Mandel, D., Blanchard, J., Granger, D. A., Wilcox, R. R., Lai, M.-Y., & Azen, S. P. (2012). Effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention in promoting the well-being of independently living older people: Results of the Well Elderly 2 randomized controlled trial. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 66(9), 782–790. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2009.099754 

Dunbar, S. B. & Winston, K. (2022). An occupational perspective on leadership: Theoretical and practical dimensions. Thorofare, NJ: Slack, Inc. 

Hanes, C. (Host). (2023, August 14). Discipline over motivation [Audio podcast episode]. In The Keep Hammering Podcast. Black Rifle Coffee Company. https://www.youtube.com/@CameronHanesPodcast 

Holloway, A. (2025, January 23). When Leadership, Healthcare, and Technology Collide. Fisher College of Business-The Ohio State University. https://fisher.osu.edu/blogs/leadreadtoday/when-leadership-healthcare-and-technology-collide 

Mercy Health System. (2025, September 23). About Mercy | Mercy. Mercy. https://www.mercy.net/about/ 

Rogan, J. (Host). (2024, January 10). David Goggins returns! (No. 2050) [Audio podcast episode]. In The Joe Rogan Experience. Spotify Studios. https://open.spotify.com/show/4rOoJ6Egrf8K2IrywzwOMk 

Sheikhrabori, A., Peyrovi, H., & Khankeh, H. (2022). The main features of resilience in healthcare providers: A scoping review. Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 36, 3. https://doi.org/10.47176/mjiri.36.3 

Yousef Farhan, B. (2024). Visionary leadership and innovative mindset for sustainable business development: Case studies and practical applications. Research in Globalization. 

Mackenzie, Skylar, Brooke, Morgan, and Lauren examine how critical thinking drives both clinical reasoning and everyday leadership in OT. After a “locked car” riddle, they compare classroom cases to fieldwork decision-making; contrast critical thinking vs. clinical reasoning; and reflect on practice habits (mulligans, self-awareness, Toglia’s just-right challenge). Guest perspectives include clinic leader Alexa Corley, OTR/L, plus faculty input from Dr. Ryan (OT) and Dr. Larimore (PT). The group ties these skills to the Iron Triangle (access, cost, quality) and hosts a respectful, mixed-view discussion on AI—where it can help, where it can harm, and why professional judgment still leads.
 Takeaways: critical thinking is learned and practiced; both followers and leaders need it; and OT leadership grows when curiosity, reflection, and collaboration stay front and center.

Acharya, V. (2025, October). Intelligent healthcare ecosystems: Optimizing the iron triangle of healthcare (access, cost, quality). Cornell University. https://arxiv.org/pdf/2510.03331

Beauvais, B., Kruse, C. S., Fulton, L., Brooks, M., Mileski, M., Lee, K., Ramamonjiarivelo, Z., Shanmugam, R. (2021). Testing Kissick’s Iron Triangle—Structural equation modeling analysis of a practical theory. Healthcare, 9(1753). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare 9121753

Coles, J. (Host). (2023, February 16). 7 steps to improve your problem solving skills at work [Audio podcast episode]. In Enhance Training. https://open.spotify.com/episode/56I4peiKoMTQ1lCyYl559u

Garrett, H. (2024, April 1). The indisposable role of critical thinking in healthcare leadership.Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2024/04/01/the-indispensable-role-of-critical-thinking-in-healthcare-leadership/

Kissick, W. L. (1994). Medicine’s dilemmas: Infinite needs versus finite resources. Yale University Press: London, UK.

Nelson, T. M. (2022). The dance of leadership and followership. In S. Dunbar-Smalley & K. Winton (Eds.), An occupational perspective on leadership: Theoretical and practical dimensions (3rd ed., pp. 151-166). SLACK Inc.

Nickisch, C. (Host). (2023, August 16). 3 ways to build critical-thinking skills (Episode 19) [Audio podcast episode]. In HBR On Strategy. https://open.spotify.com/episode/2p0xzKV2rCgvNp6ddcNWEs

Quint, K. (2022). A system approach to leadership in occupational therapy. In S. Dunbar-Smalley & K. Winton (Eds.), An occupational perspective on leadership: Theoretical and practical dimensions (3rd ed., pp. 137-149). SLACK Inc. 

Reggoug, N., Boulaz, F., Haouachim, I. E., & Omari, K. E. (2024). Assessing critical thinking in a professional context: A case study of healthcare professionals. European Modern Studies Journal, 8(5). https://doi.org/10.59573/emsj.8(5).2024.15

Steffany, M. (2024, November 13). Applying critical thinking when deploying artificial intelligence. ASHRM Exchange. https://exchange.ashrm.org/blogs/ashrm-forum/2024/11/13/applying-critical-thinking-when-deploying-artifici 

In this episode, UCA OTD students tackle diversity, cultural humility, and generational awareness in occupational therapy. Joined by Dr. Letitia Gaither-Davis (Therapeutic Focus), they discuss:

• Why there are no occupations without culture and how humility deepens client care
• What generational trends reveal about leadership, motivation, and work–life balance
• How inclusive practice shapes access within the Iron Triangle of healthcare

Through personal stories, fieldwork examples, and a few powerful one-liners, this episode invites you to reflect, self-check, and lead with empathy in every space you enter.

References
Agner, J. (2020). Moving from cultural competence to cultural humility in occupational therapy: A paradigm shift. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(4).https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.038067
Banks, T. M. (2022). Leading the OT profession toward diversity, equity, and inclusion: Let’s talk academia. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(Supplement 1).https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.76s1-po71
Boyle, C. J., Gonyeau, M., Flowers, S. K., Hritcko, P., Taheri, R., & Prabhu, S. (2018). Adapting Leadership Styles to Reflect Generational Differences in the Academy. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 82(6), 6886. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe6886
Brown, K., Lamont, A., Do, A., & Schoessow, K. (2021). Increasing racial and ethnic diversity in occupational therapy education: The role of Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®) standards. American Journal of Occupational Therapy,75(3), 1–6. https://doi-org.ucark.idm.oclc.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.047746
Brandenburg, M., Anvarezade, A., Cheng, N., & Lyons, V. (Hosts) (2025, March 9). Celebrating National Black History Month and Women’s History Month - First voices, future paths:
Advancing health equity and leadership in occupational therapy [Audio podcast episode]. In AOTA Podcast. American Occupational Therapy Association.
Brandenburg, M., & Deforge, M. (Hosts). (2024, November 25). OT for Native Americans [Audio podcast episode]. In AOTA Podcast. American Occupational Therapy Association.
Dunbar-Smalley, S. (2022). A Note on Antiracist Leadership. In An Occupational Perspective on Leadership (3rd ed., pp. 271–272). essay. Retrieved from
https://uca-bookshelf.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9781040142226.
Kitchens, R. (2024, June 1). Impact of DEIJAB legislation on occupational therapy education. Aota.org.https://www.aota.org/publications/ot-practice/ot-practice-issues/2024/dei-impact
-of-deijab-legislation-on-occupational-therapy-education
Kokorelias, K. M., Wu, V., Colquhoun, H., Sangrar, R., Wijekoon, S., Nelson, M. L., Assaf, H., Ramachandran, M., & Singh, H. (2025). Cultural humility practices in occupational therapy services: A scoping review. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79(2). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2025.050738
Korhonen, V. (2025). U.S. population by generation and race 2023. Statista.
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Lugo-Candelas, C., Polanco-Roman, L., & Duarte, C. S. (2021). Intergenerational Effects of Racism: Can Psychiatry and Psychology Make a Difference for Future Generations?. JAMA psychiatry, 78(10), 1065–1066. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.1852
Occupational therapy’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. (2020). The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(Supplement 3).
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The Oxford Review. (n.d.). Generational diversity - Definition and explanation.
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Stubbe, D. E. (2020). Practicing cultural competence and cultural humility in the care of diverse patients. Focus, 18(1), 49–51. https://doi.

In this lively episode of the Go-Getters Podcast, the UCA OTD Class of 2026 explores teamwork, followership, and collaboration — the trio that keeps every great healthcare team moving forward.
 Join Kennedy, Olivia, Gracie, Lauren, and Shayla as they share lessons from the clinic, reflections from their interview with nurse leader Briny, and a few laughs along the way.

Through their conversation, the group reveals how shared leadership builds trust, how followership fuels collaboration, and how redefining what leadership looks like can be quietly healing — especially for those whose strengths don’t always fit the traditional mold. 

Baird, N., & Benson, A. J. (2022). Getting ahead while getting along: Followership as a key ingredient for shared leadership and reducing team conflict. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.923150 

Lewis, K. M. (Host). (2025, September 2). Beyond the spotlight: Why followership matters [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leadership-beyond-borders/id1245949036?i=1000724557027 

McKimm, J., & Vogan, C. L. (2020). Followership: much more than simply following the leader. BMJ Leader, leader-2019. 

Varpio, L., & Teunissen, P. (2021). Leadership in interprofessional healthcare teams: Empowering knotworking with followership. Medical Teacher, 43(1), 32–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2020.1791318 

Watford, P., Adams, E., Carlton, M., & Todd, K. (2021). Effects of interprofessional education on OT student practitioner outcomes: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75 (Suppl. 2), 7512515351p1. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.75S2-RP351 

In this episode of the Go-Getters Podcast, the UCA OTD Class of 2026 takes on Communication and Interpersonal Influence with insight, humor, and honesty. Join Madeline, Ashlyn, Sarah, Courtney, and Amberly as they break down why communication is more than talking—it’s connection, clarity, and compassion in action.

With special guest Luke Nipper from Camp Aldersgate, the team explores the art of listening, the challenge of “complicated communicators,” and the ethics of how we speak and lead in healthcare. From fieldwork stories to real-world examples, this episode is a reminder that how we communicate can shape trust, teamwork, and client outcomes in every setting.

Chatman, J. E., Johnson, A., White, E., & Bell, R. L. (2020). The leader as effective communicator. American Journal of Management 20(2), 22-32. https://doi.org/10.33423/ajm.v20i2.2997

Dunbar, S. B. & Winston, K. (2022). An occupational perspective on leadership: Theoretical and

practical dimensions. Thorofare, NJ: Slack, Inc.

English, C. B. (1987). The art of leading meetings. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 41(5), 321-326. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.41.5.321

Turaga, R. (2017). What maketh an effective leader?. IUP Journal of Soft Skills, 11(4), 65-75. 

https://ucark.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/what-maketh-effective-leader/docview/1989500120/se-2?accountid=10017

Wolor, C. W., Ardiansyah, A., Rofaida, R., Nurkhin, A., & Rababah, M. A. (2022). Impact of toxic leadership on employee performance. Health Psychology Research, 10(4), 57551. https://doi.org/10.52965/001c.57551

In this episode of the Go-Getters Podcast, UCA’s Class of 2026 dives into Integrity and Accountability in Practice — exploring how ethics, honesty, and courage shape leadership in healthcare.

Join Olivia, Bailey, Jordan, Savannah, and Kelly as they discuss moral dilemmas, burnout, and the “Fifty Shades of Gray” side of ethical decision-making, alongside insights from Dr. Gina McNew, Internal Medicine physician and Assistant Director of the Outpatient Residency Program at Conway Regional.

From COVID-era challenges to the rise of AI in clinical care, this conversation unpacks what it means to lead with integrity when no one’s watching — and why doing so might just be the most important skill you ever build as an OT.

Bennet, L. E., Jewell, V. D., Scheirton, L., McCarthy, M., & Muir. B. C. (2019). Productivity standards and the impact on quality of care: A national survey of inpatient rehabilitation professionals. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 7(4).
https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1598
Brandenburg, M. (Host). (2023, December 20). Identifying ethical dilemmas in practice [Audio podcast episode]. In AOTA Podcast. American Occupational Therapy Association. https://www.spreaker.com/episode/identifying-ethical-dilemmas-in-practice--64093626
Dunbar, S., & Winston, K. (2024). An Occupational Perspective on Leadership (3rd ed.). Taylor & Francis. https://ucabookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781040142226
Tsai, S.-F., Wu, C.-L., Ho, Y.-Y., Lin, P.-Y., Yao, A.-C., Yah, Y.-H., Hsiao, C.-M., You, Y. H.,
Yeh, T.-F., & Chen, C.-H. (2023). Medical malpractice in hospitals—How healthcare
staff feel. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1080525. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1080525
Muskus, J. (2015). Dr. Jack Cassell tells Obama supporters to seek help elsewhere. AMA Journal of Ethics, 17(11), 1009–1018.
https://doi.org/10.1001/journalofethics.2015.17.11.peer1-1511

Celestin, M., & Vanitha, N. (2020). The rise of empathetic leadership: Why emotional intelligence is the new power skill. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Arts and Humanities (IJIRAH), 5(2), 49-56.
Dunbar, S. B., & Winston, K. (Eds.). (2022). An occupational perspective on leadership: Theoretical and practical dimensions (3rd ed.), 242-248. SLACK Incorporated.
Gómez-Leal, R., Holzer, A. A., Bradley, C., Fernández-Berrocal, P., & Patti, J. (2022). The relationship between emotional intelligence and leadership in school leaders: A systematic review. Cambridge Journal of Education, 52(1), 1-21.
How to master your emotions: A guide to emotional intelligence. Spotify. (2023, September 6). https://open.spotify.com/episode/2LgFp4R74H82jURPWa3DRj
Hung, L., Phinney, A., Chaudhury, H., Rodney, P., Tabamo, J., & Bohl, D. (2018). Appreciative inquiry: Bridging research and practice in a hospital setting. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406918769444
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Definition of [emotional intelligence]. Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ [emotional intelligence]
Schultz, S., & Schkade, J. K. (1992). Occupational adaptation: toward a holistic approach for contemporary practice, Part 2. The American journal of occupational therapy: official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 46(10), 917–925. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.46.10.917