When Lindsay Ferrieri moved to virtual care, the second-year Doctor of Occupational Therapy student wasn’t concerned with providing therapy sessions to her pediatric clients. She did worry that the nuances which come from sitting across a table, such as being to give hands-on instruction and making a personal connection, could be lost.

“Showing empathy, compassion, and understanding is a challenge when not being face to face with an individual,” said Ferrieri. “Although I would prefer to be treating an individual in person, as technology becomes more accessible to all, it is extremely important that I become skillful in telehealth as well.” 

Along with her fellow Doctor of Occupational Therapy students and most other MGH Institute students, Ferrieri has adapted to the new normal of virtual client interactions since the COVID-19 pandemic began and classes moved off campus in mid-March. While it meant no longer working with clients in the Tabor/Connor Family Occupational Therapy Center for Learning, Participation, and Rehabilitation (CLiPR), located in the Sanders IMPACT Practice Center, students have adjusted and thrived.

“Our program has prepared us as students to be flexible when encountering uncertain conditions and our faculty members have modeled the qualities and communication skills necessary to be fully present with our future patients despite external factors and circumstances that are outside our control,” said OTD student Katie Golden. Her classmate, Nikki Lam, who created an individualized home program so her young clients could continue their work in-between sessions, added, “Although the virtual setting presented certain challenges, the telehealth sessions were an extremely valuable experience.”
 
OTD students in the Class of 2021 also recently completed the program’s “Maymester”, a synthesis course that integrates learning over six semesters in the program. Using the online platform Simucase, an integrated team of faculty including Dr. Emily Eddy, Dr. Kim Erler, and Dr. Cathy Leslie led the students through 48 Zoom simulation sessions with eight teams of students in simulations twice a day. 

Students debriefed following each simulation and completed various reflection assignments to integrate their critical thinking. 

On the last day, students participated in standardized patient telehealth sessions with assistance from Bill Elizondo, an IHP instructional technologist and application support specialist, and Tony Williams, the IHP standardized patient coordinator.