Class of 25: Courtney Swanson, OT, OTD, OTR/L

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Name and credentials: Courtney Swanson, OT, OTD, OTR/L

Degree and year: PP-OTD 2025

What are your prior degrees and at which institutions?
Master of Occupational Therapy, Worcester State University, 2020
Bachelor of Science in Occupational Studies, Worcester State University, 2019

Innovation Project:

Title “Mental Health Matters: School-Based Occupational Therapy Referral Protocol with a Focus on Mental Health and Psychosocial Function”

My innovation project was initially driven by the limited acknowledgment and representation of occupational therapy practitioners addressing mental health and social emotional concerns in school-based practice. Although school-based practitioners only address areas of occupation that are affecting school performance, a student’s mental health could easily interfere with their academic performance. I have created a referral protocol and academic learning session to educate interprofessional colleagues on all the roles occupational therapists could have in school-based practice, with a large emphasis on mental health and social emotional wellbeing. This protocol also includes a screening tool that includes a section just on psychosocial performance skills including social skills, mental health and self-advocacy skills. The goal is for greater acceptance of addressing psychosocial performance skills in school-based practice and to promote OTs’ distinct roles addressing these skills.

How did your work on your Innovation Project inform your professional work?
Creating and implementing my innovation project directly in my practice setting was extremely impactful to my professional work. The problem that I identified was a real problem in my professional workplace. Being able to become a driving force in solving this problem has been extremely inspiring and reminded me why I love this career so much. It has given me a new light within my workplace and has allowed me to communicate with my colleagues more thoroughly and advocate for my profession. Fortunately, because I chose this program, all of the claims that I make in my workplace are evidence-based, which enhances my credibility. Overall, I have become a more confident and articulate occupational therapist in my workplace because of the work on my Innovation Project.

What do you think is special about the Post-Professional OTD program here at the MGH Institute?
Something special and unique about the Post-Professional OTD program here at the MGH Institute is the opportunity for mentorship. Having a resource that I am able to frequently collaborate with and work with 1:1 has truly been the reason I have made it through this program. My mentor and I built a great professional and personal relationship that has guided me to the completion of my innovation project. There were days where I certainly did not feel motivated or confident enough to continue, however my mentor kept me motivated and ensured that I was on the right track. I have also gained a significant amount of confidence in myself personally, as well as my ability to communicate and collaborate with others. These are the most important skills that I have learned in this program, and I carry them with me each and every day.

What are your goals for the future after you graduate?
After I graduate, I plan to implement my referral protocol in daily practice as well as share this protocol with other school-based occupational therapists. I would love for my protocol to be accessible via Teachers Pay Teachers or other platforms that allow clinicians to share their work with one another with the goal of making the protocol universal. I also plan to become a board member of my local OT Association to increase my network and take on additional leadership roles within the community.