
Mary O'Donnell, OTD, OT, MS
1. Tell us a little bit about your current position.
I am an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the IHP, where I teach coursework and mentor students in our Entry-Level OTD program. I was also recently appointed as the coordinator of clinical operations for the Tabor/Connor Family Occupational Therapy Center for Learning, Participation, and Rehabilitation (OT CliPR). In this role, I will oversee clinical activities in our pro-bono center, work with faculty and staff to develop innovative new programs and contribute to program evaluation to ensure continuous quality improvement of our student and client experiences.
2. What skills from the IHP’s PP-OTD program do you bring into this position?
While I’m consistently utilizing skills gained from the PP-OTD program to enhance my professional performance as an educator, the knowledge I gained in quality improvement and program evaluation is particularly relevant to my new role. I learned practical strategies to systematically monitor, assess, and improve the quality of clinical services and student experiences. As we look ahead to the OT CliPR’s future, I look forward to using these skills to evaluate and disseminate the wonderful work happening in the center.
3. As its coordinator of clinical operations, what impact do you hope to have on the center’s students and clients?
The OT CLiPR is such a unique component of our EL-OTD program that really allows students early and frequent hands-on clinical experiences embedded throughout their time in the program. At the same time, the center provides pro-bono services to adult and pediatric clients in our community. In my new role, I really hope to enhance the work that we’ve been doing for years and leave students feeling confident to enter level II fieldwork experiences with strong clinical reasoning and communication skills. For our clients, I hope that we can continue to develop new programs that can expand our reach and impact on our community.
4. What would you say are the center’s greatest accomplishments to date?
This is such a hard question! There’s been some amazing work out of the center, from S-IHP’s CAP, an intensive interprofessional aphasia program, to leisure and wellness groups and individually tailored interventions. One thing I’m always very proud of is hearing from recent alum who have described how experiences in the center supported their success in their level II fieldwork and first jobs. It speaks volumes to the work our instructors put in to ensuring students not only provide high-quality services but also identify and meet their own professional development goals.
5. What advice would you give to fellow alumni interested in developing new programs in their workplace?
One of the things I love most about the IHP is how our programs foster leadership and innovation among our students. For recent alum interested in developing new programs in their workplace, I encourage them to use data and evidence to support the need for their proposed programs. Furthermore, consider partnering with community stakeholders, such as patients, families, or community leaders, to work collaboratively on program development. Don’t be afraid to speak up and advocate for change! Many of the clinical programs we run in our center emerged directly from faculty or staff advocacy and desire to fill a community need. Talk with your institutional leaders about the change you wish to see, and you may be surprised with what’s possible.