I am working for Fox Rehab in Northern Virginia as a home and community health occupational therapist. My focus is on providing individualized care to clients within their home environments, which allows me to address their unique needs in meaningful, everyday contexts. I have to opportunity to request and carry out home modifications—something I find to be very rewarding.
Since graduating, I have been able to connect with other healthcare professionals in the field, enhancing my interprofessional collaboration skills through company seminars and my community disability advocacy committee. I’ve also been exploring ways to integrate evidence-based practices into creative, engaging interventions for my patients, which has expanded my understanding of therapeutic possibilities.
One key takeaway from my Duke OTD experience is the importance of recognizing that I am not the expert on my patients’ lives—they are. This perspective has guided me to take a collaborative approach, where I partner with patients to help them rediscover meaning and purpose in their daily occupations. I am thankful my OTD education has given me the confidence to advocate for my patients.
Additionally, my Duke OTD education has been a valuable resource for navigating interprofessional interactions and designing innovative treatment sessions. I could have never predicted just how important learning that ‘five-minute elevator speech’ would be.