 Occupational therapists assist patients in the “occupation” of daily life. This includes all the ways in which we spend our time. Independent living is the ultimate goal in occupational therapy.

 OTs assist those at various ages accomplish the tasks required for daily living and adapt to losses in skills.

 Master’s or Doctoral Degree from an accredited occupational therapy program  Knowledge in human growth and development, with specific influence on illness and injury  Great interpersonal communication skills  Creativity with problem solving!

 Job outlook for Occupational Therapists is great! Employment in OT is expected to grow much faster than the average job. › Between , the US Department of Labor projects a 23% increase in OT employment

 The median reported earnings for occupational therapy in May 2006 was $60,470, depending on the employment setting.

 Continuing education is vital for success as an occupational therapist.  Supervisor roles are becoming increasingly common, as more OT aides and assistants are being added to the workforce.  Specialties such as pediatrics, gerontology, or mental health also increase an OT’s opportunities.  OTs can also work in education and teach classes in occupational therapy programs.

 Hospitals  Acute care centers  Nursing homes  Rehabilitation centers  Home health practices  Private practice  School systems

 Regardless of the settings, occupational therapists interact with other disciplines to provide the best patient outcome possible.  Physical therapists, physicians, speech therapists and other professionals are just some of the people OTs regularly coordinate with.

 The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at MUSC offers a 26 month program in occupational therapy

 26 months, 7 semesters  The first year of the program focuses heavily on the sciences, including anatomy, neuroscience, and pathophysiology.  The second year focuses on more OT- specific curriculum and hands-on field work experience

 Prerequisite Courses › Human Anatomy and Physiology- 8 hours  4 hours completed with a final grade of B  4 hours currently in progress › Statistics- 3 hours  Completed with a final grade of A › Lifespan human development- 3 hours  Completed with a final grade of A › Abnormal Psychology- 3 hours  Planned enrollment in Fall 2009 › Sociology – 3 hours  Completed with a final grade of A

 Academically qualified through experience in a rigorous academic program at Clemson University’s Department of Public Health Sciences. Overall GPA of 3.84  Passionate for helping others through especially difficult times, and enjoy making a difference.  Love to work with people ranging in age from infants to the elderly.

 As an occupational therapist, I hope to generate creative and simple ways to help people to live at the best possible standards they can.

 American Occupational Therapy Association ›  United States Department of Labor ›  Medical University Of South Carolina- College of Health Professions, Occupational Therapy ›