OT News Fall 2018

OT NEWS

Holiday 2018

Vol. 8, No. 2

CHA IR ’ S

LETTER Greetings from North Dakota,

student presentations, we hosted a clinician’s luncheon where we

I love parts of autumn—all the leaves changing colors, the crisp cool evenings, the excitement of going back to school (and, yes, I still buy myself a new outfit to wear the first day of class!), and heading into the Thanksgiving and the Christmas Holidays. It’s a busy time and I am always amazed at how fast the fall goes.

presented to our stakeholders in North Dakota and Wyoming about the new curriculum. We discussed what we have planned for our program, and how we hope to

In September we celebrated 25 years of UND offering an occupational

partner in new ways with our alumni

therapy degree at Casper College. This was in conjunction with the

and fieldwork sites to further the

fall WyOTA meeting, and it was wonderful catching up with many of

profession of occupational therapy

our past grads, adjunct faculty, and Casper College colleagues. It was

in our region.

fun to think about how times have changed and how we as a profession are continuing to grow and make a difference!

In addition, we continued the process of presenting student-researched life histories of OTs with ties to North Dakota and Wyoming who have

In October, LaVonne Fox and I partnered with colleagues from

been influential in clinical practice. Presentations were December 5,

University of Mary at the NDOTA fall conference to present on changes

and we offered one hour of continuing education to attendees. We

in accreditation and discuss the doctoral experiential component. We

hope you will join us for future continuing education opportunities.

did some brainstorming about possible partnerships for program planning, innovative practice, and policy. It was wonderful energy and there were lots of great ideas shared. This was followed up by Cherie Graves and Deb Hanson working with our Minnesota colleagues to update practitioners at the Minnesota Fall Conference.

In traveling to other universities and cities, I am extremely grateful for the wonderful people we work with in both states. We have the best students, innovative and dedicated alumni, supportive and encouraging fieldwork educators, and a talented faculty group who are preparing for the doctoral transition. The UND OT Department is

We are once again gearing up for admissions in Wyoming and Grand

without a doubt one of the finest places to work! We greatly appreciate

Forks, with some changes. We will be using the OT Centralized

all that you do to serve your clients and communities; we are proud to

Application System (OTCAS) for the first time this year to accept

call you our alumni and look forward to future opportunities.

applications. It will be wonderful once we learn the system, but I admit that technology isn’t always my best friend. Fortunately, our wonderful staff is knowledgeable and ready to help applicants as we transition.

We had two events coming this fall for opportunities for continuing

Best, Janet Jedlicka, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences

education. On November 30, after the oral comp workshop-style

UND + CASPER: 25 YEARS L to R: Andrea Young - Casper faculty (alum), Janet Jedlicka - OT Chair Grand Forks (alum), Trevor Mahlum, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs: Casper College, Breann Lamborn Casper faculty, Darren Divine, President: Casper College, Mike Moline - Casper adjunct faculty, Rebecca McOmie Former Casper adjunct (alum), Nicole Harris - Casper faculty (alum), Kelly Dornbier - Casper faculty, Lavonne Fox Grand Forks faculty (alum), Jessa Hulteng - Grand Forks faculty (alum).

FI EL D W O R K

CONNECTIONS Life is busy for the UND OT Department fieldwork team as we prepare

relevance to OT treatment, we believe they will develop a stronger

for the level I and II fieldwork experiences that make up our OT

conceptual understanding of assessment and will generalize their

doctoral program, set to launch in the fall of 2019! Fieldwork educators

learning across OT practice contexts.

have been asking what they might expect in working with students, so here’s the scoop: many elements of students’ level I and II experiences will be similar to past expectations, but there will also be differences that are meant to enhance the student learning experience.

The remaining two level I fieldwork experiences focus on interventions for neuro-musculoskeletal and movement-related functions or mental functions. This broad focus opens up opportunities for fieldwork educators across areas of practice to serve in an educator role. Neuro-

Students will complete a total of four level I fieldwork experiences in

musculoskeletal and movement-related functions and mental functions

the doctoral curriculum. Starting right away in the first semester of the

are also the focus area for the required level II fieldwork experiences.

program, a pair of students are matched with participants from community agencies who are in need of developing or improving occupational performance. By meeting with their assigned participants once a week over the course of the semester, students will learn about the normative process of occupational participation in a cultural context and learn to recognize components of the OT process.

So, what do you think? Would you like to explore any of these options yourself? Rest assured that despite changes in our fieldwork options, our commitment to quality education for our students and ongoing support of our fieldwork educators remains the same. If you have not yet stepped into a fieldwork educator role, now is the time to come forward! If you have worked with our students in the past, we hope

In keeping with our concept-based teaching model, the next level I

you continue, as the benefits to accommodating students for fieldwork

fieldwork will occur during the second semester of the OTD program,

are well documented in the professional literature. You and your clients

and will introduce students to the broad concept of evaluation in

will benefit as students stimulate your learning and revive your

occupational therapy. Occurring as a one-week block placement (40

enthusiasm for OT.

hours) in a community or medical setting, the learning focus is on evaluation as it occurs in populations throughout the lifespan. As students learn to recognize and practice the various forms of assessment that occur in practice settings and see first-hand the

Please contact Deb Hanson (debra.hanson@UND.edu) or Cherie Graves (cherie.graves@UND.edu) to learn more. We can’t wait to hear from you!

SCUP CONFERENCE

Back from the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) conference Before the new School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS)

Steinberg Hart, the architect of the SMHS, invited two students from

building was occupied in 2016, the occupational therapy program was

UND and one student from Whittier College to join them in presenting

housed in the Hyslop Sports Center. Occupational therapy (OT)

at the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) conference

students spent all of their time in one classroom, Hyslop 360. The

at UCLA. Both campuses had new learning spaces constructed by

classroom bordered a weight room, the bathrooms were antiquated,

Steinberg Hart. The presentation, “Student Experience in Active

and there was no daylight. The classroom set-up was stagnant, and

Learning Spaces” contrasted the previous learning environment with

students only interacted with each other. It was not conducive to

the new space and highlighted how the new active learning

learning, or students’ mental health. Needless to say, when the new

environment has positively impacted student learning. Over 80

SMHS building was opened, OT students were thrilled. There was

people attended the presentation, and the response from the

sunshine, freedom to move between classes, bathrooms that worked,

attendees was overwhelmingly positive. People inquired about the

access to professors, kitchens to use, and the opportunity to interact

flexibility of the furniture in the learning spaces, open classrooms, and

with students in other professions. The difference has been profound.

learning communities. They asked about the functionality of the space,

When asked about the new building, a one student stated, “The

what works, and what does not work. The presentation was unique in

Hyslop was like a prison. The SMHS is freedom.” The statement could

that professionals were able to gather feedback from the actual users

not be truer.

of the environment. ...continued on next page

SCUP CONFERENCE ...continued from previous page

PAT I ENT DRI VEN

PAYMENT MODEL

The experience of being a presenter

at

the

OT practitioners working in skilled nursing facilities: are

SCUP

you ready for upcoming changes in reimbursement? The

conference was an excellent

Patient Driven Payment Model will become effective

opportunity. We were able to network professionals

with who

October 2019. AOTA has a great webinar, OT Practice

other

article, and more on the upcoming changes with the

ranged

transition to the Patient Driven Payment Model. Also,

from architects and geologists

check out the Choosing Wisely campaign on the AOTA

to university personnel. We

website. Choosing Wisely is a consumer driven initiative,

gained perspective on other

so by checking out the documents on AOTA you will see

spaces, learned the ins and outs of what the SMHS has to offer, and were able to attend other presentations on active learning spaces. Foremost, we were able to share how the new SMHS building has enhanced our learning experience and were able to showcase the forward thinking of UND.

what consumers are being given about occupational therapy practice. The students will be receiving the information

in

our

curriculum

as

well.

See

https://www.aota.org/Publications-News/AOTANews/ 2018/Practitioners-Prepare-2019-SNF-Payment-Model-

By Erika Moderow (above left) and Ashley Prososki

Earn-Free-CE.aspx

ALUM N I S P O T L I G H T

JANE LOSCHEIDER, MOT, OTR/L, ATP, CLT Thanks for your time, Jane. How did you became interested in OT?

just finished my cancer treatment for lymphoma when I called Dr.

Truth? In high school they were offering a “get out of class to tour the

Jedlika to see if she could use an instructor for a course. I had always

rehabilitation center” day. Back then, I was always looking for an out

thought about teaching, but thought I had to have more experience

from school, so I jumped at the chance to skip Geometry, or whatever

under my belt before I could do it. After my cancer diagnosis and

the subject was. I became intrigued by the OT department; the kitchen

treatment, I just thought that there were no more excuses for putting

set-up for someone in a wheelchair was so cool! Then I started

things off. If I wanted to give teaching a try, I just needed to do it. I

volunteering after graduation, which solidified my decision to become

believe it's been eight years now that I’ve been teaching.

an OT. What do you most enjoy about OT as a profession?

What do you remember most about your time as a student in the

I love helping clients achieve their goals and having a positive impact

OT department?

in their lives. Watching a client be able to make a meal for the first time

I remember the amazing friends that I made, and am still friends with

since their injury/accident and seeing the joy on their face when they

to this day! I remember all the guest “patients” we got to see in class.

can share it with their family is so gratifying. Or when you help a client

I have wonderful memories of study groups and gross anatomy lab. I

move their fingers for the first time since their stroke. I love that, in

still visualize the muscles from our donor when I work with patients.

some small way, I was able to be a part of that moment. I also love the creativity that comes with the job. I love that challenge of finding

Where are you practicing now and how did you come to that setting?

I primarily work in outpatient rehab at Altru Health System in Grand Forks. My areas of focus are wheelchair seating and mobility, neuro

some simple solutions to make our clients’ lives easier. I take pride in knowing the funding resources and services available, and directing clients on how they can get what they need to live as independently as possible.

rehab, lymphedema, and driving. When I graduated I first grabbed a job in inpatient rehab. Back then, the inpatients and outpatients were

What else are you doing?

seen by the same group of therapists. I continually volunteered for

Let’s see.... I’m a wife and mother to three children (18, 16, and 15). I

opportunities to be trained in specialty areas. So, when our department

volunteer at my children’s high school for the parent-teacher

was split between inpatient and outpatient, I was placed in outpatient

association. I’ve been involved with medical mission work in Ecuador

by my manager. I have loved all of my areas of practice, but I feel that

for the past four years. We bring wheelchairs from the U.S. and then

I have found my niche in outpatient, and am truly grateful for my job.

modify them for the children in Ecuador.

I am also an adjunct faculty member at UND, teaching one class. I had

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

Grand Forks ND

Permit #10

GLOBAL FRIENDS STUDENTS OF THE YEAR Miranda Hosking and Mackenzie Funke were named OT Students of the Year by Global Friends Coalition.

SOFTBALL CHAMPIONS Congratulations to Casper Year I’s for winning the Casper Recreational Leagues Association Fall 2018 Co-Ed Softball City Tournament – we knew you were champions!

SKOL Assistant Professor Julie Grabanski on the 30 yard line holding the “SKOL” flag during the Vikings pre-game activities on November 4, 2018, before the Minnesota Vikings/Detroit Lions game. Julie and her husband were selected from season ticket holders to carry the flag onto the field. ©Minnesota Vikings, reprinted with permission.