4th of July Idea for Helping Us to Become "Globally Connected"....Invite an International Colleague to Join OT Connections!

Published 2 Jul 2009 6:59 PM | Brent Braveman

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Well today I spent some time meeting with a colleague from another department who will be going up for promotion to Clinical Professor soon. I ran that gauntlet 2 years ago and was thrilled to be successful. A key criterion for becoming a "full" professor is having an international reputation and influence. Got me thinking.......

International reputation.....globally connected.....international influence.....globally connected......

I was able to jump that bar when I "went up" because of my collaboration with colleagues in Australia, Israel, Canada and the UK. In my research on HIV/AIDS and employment I Email more with occupational therapists in other countries than here at home in the U.S. Sometimes it has been with colleagues in countries where resources are slim to none and they are looking for advice, and sometimes it has been to seek the guidance of foreign therapists who work in different systems and so have very different assumptions about what is possible. It is truly amazing how much some practitioners achieve in countries where "reimbursement" just does not exist! They don't worry about who will pay for OT, they just provide it and people ask for more!

So as we approach the celebration of the birth of our nation, here is an idea to enrich our experience on OT Connections. If you have a colleague in another country, email them and invite them to join! Goodness knows that while we have a lot going for us, the U.S. is not always at the forefront of progressive thinking.

Well, that is my thought for the week. I hope you enjoy our uniquely American holiday and think about how to make us more globally aware and connected!

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Comments

# BananaEagle said on July 4, 2009 9:57 PM:

Hello! I'm from Malaysia! Joined after reading your article linked from a UK friend's OT blog. Talk about going international!

# Brent Braveman said on July 5, 2009 12:13 PM:

Welcome! Very Cool! Look forward to your contributions and thoughts on the site!

Brent

# Betsy B Burgos said on July 13, 2009 7:32 PM:

This is a great idea Brent. I have already sent your link to other OT friends outside the U.S.

As part of the OT Hx and Foundations class that I teach, I make the students look for information about OT practice all around the world. The global OT connection would be a great resource.

Betsy

# Brent Braveman said on July 13, 2009 7:43 PM:

Great assignment Betsy, and sends your students a great message!

Brent