Who said learning about leadership can’t be sweet?  

On Tuesday, the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) hosted its general body meeting in Shouse 305, complete with an ice cream bar and a special presentation from Patti Peterson, clinical education placement and systems associate in the Occupational Therapy Department. Peterson joined the meeting to encourage students to get involved in the Promote OT Challenge. 

“The IHP is going to be a part of the Massachusetts Promote OT Challenge”, said Peterson. "It is a nationwide effort by our accrediting organization and a researcher out of Virginia who started the challenge to spread more knowledge on the profession of OT across the nation to a diverse population.” 

The Promote OT Challenge is designed to raise awareness about occupational therapy by encouraging students to engage with communities such as schools and the colleges and universities of alumni to introduce younger individuals to the profession. The challenge also hopes to increase enrollment in OT programs, helping to address practitioner shortages and expand access to care. 

“In their final stages of field work, OT students are required to be able to articulate the value and role of OT in a variety of different areas to several different parties or stakeholders,” explained Peterson. “And so, this is an excellent way to practice that.” 

Peterson also emphasized the broader impact of the initiative:  

“It's a great way to expand and diversify our community of OT practitioners,” she noted. “Sharing their story about how they got there can be really life changing for people who don't have access to learning about the many different offerings and careers in healthcare.” 

“As OT students,” added SOTA president and second-year OT student Bridie O’Sullivan, “we can be a support system for individuals who want to learn more about our profession.” 

Following Peterson’s presentation, students were put into groups for a Kahoot game.  

While reflecting on the Promote OT Challenge and with bowls of ice cream in hand, students shared laughter while answering fun fact-based questions about their peers in the program to get to know one another better and strengthen their OT community.