What Makes Being an Occupational Therapy Educator So Fulfilling
It is so gratifying when one of your former students is covered in the Los Angeles Times for the outstanding occupational therapy she is providing. Renee Portenier is the occupational therapist who has been working with Emily Fennell, who underwent hand transplant surgery about two months ago after a car accident mangled her hand. In the article, a therapy session Renee is conducting with Ms. Fennell is described in detail (the paper ran a correction after initially identifying OT as PT in the photo caption). I must say I take great pride in our profession as I think about the sensitive, painstaking, empathetic, and skillful work that Renee seems to be doing with this client.
Renee is not the only occupational therapist working in this emerging area. A recent OT Practice article by occupational therapists Marie Pace and Kimberly Maguire highlighted the role of occupational therapy in the Hand Transplantation Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
And I know that each of you has a similar story of personal excellence in your role as practitioner. I’d love to hear your stories.