OT NEWS
Winter 2018
Vol. 8, No. 1
CHAIR ’ S
LETTER Greetings from North Dakota,
and Wyoming to talk about the new curriculum, what we have planned
I am sitting here thinking about the holidays and New Year and everything I am thankful for both professionally and personally. It is a pleasure to be in the new School of Medicine and Health Sciences
for the OTD transition, and how we hope to partner in new ways with our alumni and fieldwork sites.
building in Grand Forks and to collaborate with the other health sciences at UND. I had the naiveté to think it would be less busy in a
AOTA celebrated 100 years of
new space since we wouldn’t have to walk across campus; instead, it
occupational therapy this past
is very busy and there is a lot of positive energy around the building!
spring
during
our
annual
conference in Philadelphia. Gail We have a strong and growing faculty. This past year we hired three new faculty members: Andrea Young and Kelly Dornbier in Wyoming, and Jessa Hulteng here in Grand Forks. On the other hand, we said good bye to Sue Morrison, who decided to go back to practice in the school systems, and celebrated the retirements of Dr. Jan Stube and Darlene Czapiewski after their many years of service. We also welcomed Sandy Monette as our new office manager. It has been a year of many life transitions, but we are going strong and moving forward.
Bass and I started a life history project, gathering the stories of people who were influential in establishing the OT profession in North Dakota and Wyoming. We have 29 people who agreed to share their stories, and students presented posters on these trailblazers on December 5 in Wyoming and December 6 in Grand Forks. These interviews and narratives will be archived at the UND Chester Fritz Library and in the university repository. If you are interested in sharing
On that note, we are gearing up for admissions in Wyoming and Grand
your story or if you know someone we should interview, please e-mail
Forks. The application window closed December 1, and we ended the
or call me with the contact information.
year with 121 applications in progress.
In traveling to other universities and cities, I am extremely grateful for
This will be the last class we admit for the Master’s Program, however,
the wonderful people we work with in both states. We have the best
as our first Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) class will likely be
students, innovative and dedicated alumni, and a talented faculty
admitted for the fall of 2019. I want to commend our curriculum and
group who are supportive and encouraging. The UND Department of
OTD Ad Hoc Committee for their work in laying the foundation for our
Occupational Therapy is without a doubt one of the finest places to
transition to the OTD degree. We received approval from the North
work! We greatly appreciate all that you—our alumni, faculty, and clinical
Dakota University System and have completed all of the paperwork for
associates—do to serve your clients and communities, and we are
the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education. We were
proud to call you our alumni and look forward to future opportunities.
very diligent in making the decision to move to the doctoral level, while keeping the costs down for students. We are planning on a 3 + 3 model. OT is definitely at a crossroads with many decisions being made nationally that will influence the direction of our next 100 years. This next year we will have meetings with our stakeholders in North Dakota
Best, Janet Jedlicka, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences
FIELD W O R K
CONNECTIONS The quality of the learning experience that OT students get during the fieldwork portion of their education is very important to the mission of the UND OT department. We know that fieldwork education plays a powerful role in shaping the clinical reasoning of students. For this reason, none of us should be surprised by the following findings: Exposure to practice situations, through observation of others and immersion in practice activities, facilitates students’ application of theoretical
knowledge,
development
of
professional
skills,
competence, and self-confidence (Gat & Tatzon, 2014). Face-to-face personal interactions with clients provides a context for
CHI St. Alexus Bismarck AOTA Fieldwork Educators Certificate Workshop
the development of student critical thinking and clinical reasoning. Furthermore, opportunities to observe, collaborate, and consult with
hosted at Choice Therapy in Bemidji, Minn., and the other co-
seasoned therapists provides a context for professional socialization
sponsored and hosted at CHI St. Alexius Health in Bismarck, N.D. We
and professional identity development (Coker, 2010; Ashby, Adler, &
had 25 attendees in Bemidji and 28 attendees in Bismarck participate
Herbert, 2016).
in the two-day workshop on fieldwork education.
Fieldwork provides an environment to predict student competence in
In addition to these two AOTA Fieldwork Educators Certificate
practice. Through observing experienced therapists, and planning
Workshops, our department shared in hosting the first ever
interventions, a student’s decision-making ability and self-awareness
interdisciplinary clinical educators’ workshop that was held in our new
is enhanced, both of which are essential to the development and
building on the University of North Dakota campus in Grand Forks.
demonstration of competence (Hamilton et al., 2015).
The coordinators of and speakers at the workshop—faculty from our own UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences—represented the
Fieldwork educators expect students to take initiative and responsibility for their own learning. They believe that clinical reasoning ability is primarily developed in the context of clinical learning, and that the clinical context is primarily where students learn about and from other professions (Chipcase et al., 2012).
professions of Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Medical Lab Science, and Physician Assistant Studies. In total, 32 participants attended this event representing the professions indicated above, plus speech language pathology. Overall, feedback on the event, especially comments related to the interdisciplinary collaboration and education
Practice education can be problematic when discrepancies between
that was provided, was positive. We would like to thank all of our
education and practice experience are observed and experienced
fieldwork educators, whether you host students for level I or level II
(Trede et al., 2011; Van den Heever, 2014). For example, students may
fieldwork experiences, for the time, effort, and passion that you put
be influenced to use some tools of the profession to the exclusion of
forth in educating the next generation of occupational therapy
others, depending on the influence of the practice educator (Towns &
students from UND!
Ashby, 2014). How can you make the best of your opportunities to influence the clinical reasoning and professional development of OT students? Workshops focusing on fieldwork education help clinicians take advantage of opportunities to learn, in greater depth, various aspects involved in fieldwork education as well as network with other clinicians. This past year we co-sponsored and participated in two AOTA Fieldwork Educators Certificate Workshops: one co-sponsored and
For more information or to share experiences, please feel free to contact either Cherie Graves or Debra Hanson.
WELCOME! Jessa Hulteng, MOT, OTR/L
Sandy Monette
The Grand Forks site is happy to welcome
Both program locations are happy to
Jessa Hulteng full-time to the OT faculty!
welcome Sandy Monette to the main
Jessa is a graduate of the UND OT
office! Sandy has been hired full-time as
program, and worked as an OT at Altru
the department Administrative Assistant
Health System for eight years, while also
and Office Manager. She comes to the
teaching as an adjunct for UND for the
Department of Occupational Therapy with
last three years. Her emphasis has been
an extensive background at the University
working in physical disability settings
of North Dakota, where she previously
ranging from acute care to outpatient and also working in home health.
worked for the Physical Therapy Department. Sandy spends her free
Now full-time, Jessa is taking on the Introduction to OT classes, is part
time with her sweetheart of 33 years, her three grown children, and
of the multicultural class teaching team, and instructs the practicum
nine grandchildren. She loves baking with her daughters and
classes for the physical disabilities components. She is also working
grandkids, building her collections of favorite things, and reading.
on her PhD in Educational Research, and volunteers with ACOTE on
When she's not spending time in those activities, she's out gabbing
the Roster of Accreditation. When she is not busy working, Jessa
with her sisters! Welcome aboard Sandy!
enjoys spending time with her two boys travelling, going to concerts, and hanging out at home for craft nights. Welcome Jessa! Kelly Dornbier, MOTR/L The Casper, Wyo., site is also happy to welcome Kelly Dornbier to a full-time position in OT! Previously a licensed social worker and case manager for the Wyoming Medical Center, Kelly returned for her master’s in OT at Colorado State University. She then worked in physical disabilities and pediatrics at facilities in Casper before coming to the UND OT program. Kelly has assumed the pediatrics classes in addition to the assistive technology course and co-teaching a course on the psychosocial aspects of OT. In her spare time, she is busy with two growing boys, ages 10 months and 3 years, and they are a beautiful handful. Welcome aboard Kelly!
Anatomy instructor Ethan Snow takes his turn in the “Getting to Know You” game with new First-Year OT students at the summer OT barbeque at the Casper, Wyo., site.
NOTES Cherie Graves and the scholarship of interdisciplinary teaching
Megan
Congratulations to Professor Cherie Graves, who has been
Employee of the Year
researching inter-professional collaboration over the last few years
Also in May, the 9th annual Student
with colleagues in the College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines!
Employee of the Year award was
To read an article describing Cherie’s work, please see the recent UND
announced at the UND Leadership
Today story on her.
Awards. Megan Hilgers, a second-year
Hilgers
named
Student
occupational therapy student at the UND SMHS, received the award for her position as the facility manager at the UND Wellness Center. As the winner of the 2017 UND Student Employee of the Year, Megan was awarded a $500 scholarship. Megan has worked at the Wellness Center for almost four years. She has risen from her position as a desk assistant to facility manager, and has excelled greatly in each and every role she takes on. As facility manager, Megan oversees the welcome desk area that includes student access, sales, and equipment checkout. She also supervises other student staff and is the chief policy enforcer in the building. She initiates facility safety and requires comprehensive knowledge of all emergency response protocols. “It is almost not worth mentioning that Megan is punctual, cheerful, and effective in her work; these are traits all nominees possess. What Cherie Graves, MOT, OTR/L, outside the University Children’s Learning Center on the UND campus in Grand Forks.
sets Megan apart from other student employees at the Wellness Center is twofold: her passion for her work and her continued growth in the position,” said Megan’s supervisor, Paul Jensen.
Global Friends Coalition recognizes OT students In May 2017, Global Friends Coalition (GFC), a nonprofit organization
Jensen talks highly of Megan’s attributes, the expectations that she
dedicated to helping New Americans integrate into the Grand Cities,
has raised for everyone, her leadership style, and the overall impact
awarded Emily Adams and Julia McBrien the Occupational Therapy
she has made at the Wellness Center since she began working there.
Student Award in recognition of their valuable contributions to the organization. The commitment the two students demonstrated to their New American family was above and beyond expectations. According to representatives of GFC, Adams and McBrien exemplified compassion, problem solving, empathy, and engagement while working with their family. They always kept a positive attitude and a smile on their face. Global Friends and the OT department have had an ongoing collaboration since 2014, partnering students with New Americans. The goal of the partnership is to help New Americans connect to the greater Grand Forks community and provide students with the foundational skills for addressing occupational deprivation and advocating for clients. It has been extremely beneficial to both the New American community and the students, fostering ongoing friendship and support.
Megan was also named 2017 Student Employee of the Year for the State of North Dakota by the Midwest Association of Student Employment Administrators and was presented with a cash award. (This article originally appeared in UND’s University Letter.)
OT Q &A:
CASSIDY HOFF The UND Department of Occupational Therapy recently caught up with
am doing now. It is a wonderful feeling when you see students start
alumna Cassady Hoff, who shared with us her thoughts on the
from the beginning, overcome their struggles, and become successful
profession, tolerance, and the connection between OT and the D.I.Y.
and employable in the field of occupational therapy. I also feel that
movement.
education is the place to help students develop their soft skills, as well as the skills to be client-centered, kind, genuine, and a patient
Thanks for your time, Cassady. How did you become interested in OT?
advocate. I have also learned more about myself, altered my teaching style, and have improved my problem solving skills, all due to my
I became interested in the field of occupational therapy by accident
students.
and persuasion. I personally have always been drawn to the medical field, animals, music, helping others, and teaching. So, I started
What do you most enjoy about OT as a profession?
my college career in the direction of pre-medicine, then changed my
This might sound cliché, but I love everything about it. This profession
mind to elementary education. But I still didn’t feel like that was my
has helped me to become knowledgeable in helping almost everyone
thing. So my dad, Jim Howard, who was an anatomy Instructor for
I encounter. This ranges from my own grandparents, to my parents,
Casper College, told me to look into the field of Occupational Therapy.
my children, and my community. I love that I am able to use my interest
I ended up job shadowing various people and my heart instantly fell in
in therapy, including my certified therapy dog, my music (fiddle), my
love with the profession. It fit me perfectly, focusing on “healing
various crafting skills, and my ability to “talk” to help patients and
through life occupations.”
students. I enjoy being able to get to know my patients and to know that I provided meaningful interventions to improve their quality of life.
What do you remember about your time with the OT department at UND?
What else are you doing these days?
I remember my experience with the UND Casper site very well. I
I feel that I am always an OT, even at home. I have become an avid
remember
our
crafter and Do-It-Yourselfer. This includes woodworking, soap making,
experiences both in and outside of class. I remember as a young
candle making, jewelry making, crocheting, and painting. I also have
person how fortunate I was to have such a wide range of ages and
alpacas, so I am learning how to card and spin my own wool. My
personalities from around the United States as classmates in the
children are involved with 4-H activities, and all of these interest areas
program. It taught me to be open-minded, to learn how to listen to
have been part of my life as “Mom” as well as OT. My family enjoys
others, and to be more culturally aware. I remember our OT teachers’
waterskiing, gardening, horseback riding, and fixing up our home and
passion for their specialty area and the enthusiasm they put into
land, snow skiing, traveling, hunting, and fishing. I also am active with
teaching us their trade.
my two sons and their activities that include, “gymkhana,” showing
the
caring
teachers,
the
classmates,
and
alpacas, wresting, football, rock climbing, drumming, fishing, hunting, Where are you practicing now? How did you come to be in that setting? I am currently the Program Director for the Casper College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. In the past I worked in the acute hospital care, skilled nursing home, assisted living, and outpatient rehabilitation settings. I look back at what my initial interests were and realize that in each of these cases I was able to combine health and teaching. I feel like this was a natural path for me as both of my parents were teachers as well as coaches. I remember hearing stories as a child about their successes and struggles with their own students, and how they never gave up on the students. I believe, looking back, that these stories are the reason why I am doing what I
and rock collecting. As I mentioned, my skills as an OT carry over into all aspects of my life. My children are always saying, “Mom, this might be a great intervention for someone who...,” or “Mom, I understand that this person has a mental health issue, what can I do to help them?” Based on these comments from my 11 and 13 year olds, I feel like I am also helping to create a more understanding and tolerant community of young people.
Non Profit Org US Postage Paid
Department of Occupational Therapy 1301 N Columbia Rd, Stop 9037 Grand Forks ND 58202-9037 med.UND.edu/ot
IN
MEMORIAM
Grand Forks ND
Permit #10
2018
AOTA CONFERENCE
The OT Department is saddened at the loss of Christopher Greenman, OT Class of 2015. Chris passed away on July 6, 2017, following a two-year fight with cancer. He will always be remembered by the OT department as kind, funny, and perpetually optimistic. He is survived by his wife, Darci, and daughter, Eliza.
The UND OT Alumni and Friends reception that had been scheduled for the April AOTA meeting in Salt Lake City has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience this cancellation may cause. We will resume the reception event for OT alumni next year. Photo by Adam Barker.