Why Choose Occupational Therapy? Insights from Leaders in the Field 

The primary function of occupational therapy is to help people develop, recover or maintain skills needed for daily living and working.

Occupational therapists undergo rigorous training, requiring a bachelor's degree and a master's or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Many continue with post-professional education.

In this article, three occupational therapists discuss their career paths and offer advice for prospective students.

Meet the OTs

Dr. Kurt Hubbard, occupational therapy program director at EIM, has experience in academia and as director of businesses specializing in psychosocial and neurorehabilitation.

Megan Doyle, occupational therapist and rehabilitation clinical program manager at St. Luke's Health System Outpatient Pain Program, is also EIM faculty. She holds certifications as a therapeutic pain specialist and fellow in pain sciences.

Kathryn Richardson, occupational therapist and lead clinician at FOCUS Outreach in Eagle River, Alaska, serves as faculty experience advisor at EIM for pain sciences, integrative behavioral health, lifestyle medicine and hand certification programs.

Discovering OT

Kurt

Kurt's calling to OT came when he was already a working clinical psychologist. While he enjoyed his time as a clinical psychologist, he felt himself searching for more.

"The one area that I found myself missing was the practical application," Kurt said.

Kurt decided to go back to school for occupational therapy. With both an undergraduate degree and a Ph.D. in psychology, Kurt attended Columbia University, where he obtained his Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT). Kurt went on to specialize in psychosocial and neurorehabilitation within the occupational therapy field.

Reflecting on why he chose and continues to choose occupational therapy, Kurt said, "OT looks at people from a holistic standpoint. We look at them not only from a physical disability or a mental or psychosocial issue, but there are other factors like wellness."

Kurt also noted of people who go into OT, "There are a lot of folks that go into OT for one reason. And one reason only. It’s unfortunate. It’s usually they’ve had to receive OT or a loved one’s had to receive OT... They see the worth of what they do to help them bridge the gap between where they’re functioning now and maximizing their function."

Megan

While attending Marquette University for her undergraduate degree, Megan pursued a degree in exercise science with a psychology minor. When looking back at her fields of study, Megan noted, "I really felt strongly that was a great, kind of one-two punch for an undergrad degree."

With her foundation in kinesiology and psychology, Megan seamlessly transitioned into her graduate program at Indiana University to pursue her MOT. Upon completing her graduate program, Megan worked in a variety of settings but was ultimately drawn to specializing in pain management.

Megan's passion for helping others fuels her work as an occupational therapist. "It is truly the holism that has drawn me to the profession," Megan said. "Our roots being in mental and behavioral health, that focus on that mind, body, spirit connection."

Kathryn

At the University of New Orleans, Kathryn earned a degree in psychology. While her first couple of years were inundated with general education courses, it was her later years in undergrad that brought on classes more suited to her specific interests in how the body and mind work.

Kathryn began her journey in occupational therapy after trying to decide what direction to take after undergraduate studies. "I had a lot of interests, including working with people physically, working with the environment, lots of different, dovetailed interests that came together nicely with the profession of OT because I got to really do all the things," Kathryn said.

After earning her MOT from Louisiana State University, Kathryn began her career as an occupational therapist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. "I got to see pretty much anything and everything when I worked there," Kathryn said of her time at the institute. "Everything from inpatient to outpatient, working on the environment, doing research, so doing all sorts of things, which really filled my bucket."

Meeting the Growing Demand for OTs

Growing Issue

The growing demand for occupational therapists is increasing at a rapid rate. Recent data project that employment of occupational therapists is set to grow by 11% from 2023 to 2033. This growth rate for the occupational therapy industry is much higher than the average for other occupations.

Reasons for the high demand of occupational therapists include some leaving the industry, others reaching retirement, and a large aging population that requires occupational therapy services. The need for occupational therapists is especially important in rural and remote communities that are medically underserved.

In response to meet the increasing need for qualified occupational therapists, EIM and its university partners offer a unique solution through their Hybrid Accelerated Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) programs. EIM works closely with its university partners to create innovative learning solutions to increase accessibility to quality occupational therapy programs.

By creating more access to health care education, EIM and its university partners are creating more accessible health care. Through the hybrid accelerated learning model, students can stay in and serve their communities while working toward completing their OTD degree, saving students both time and money.

A key benefit of EIM and its university partners' hybrid accelerated learning programs is their extensive network of clinical sites that span over 27,000 nationwide. The increased access to both clinical education and OTD programs allows for a greater, more diverse cohort to be created.

Choosing OT

Occupational therapy is a dynamic and rewarding profession that addresses patients' needs with a holistic approach, improving both physical and mental well-being. As demonstrated by Kurt Hubbard, Megan Doyle and Kathryn Richardson, occupational therapy offers a diverse and fulfilling career path.

While the demand for occupational therapists continues to rise, the field offers not only personal satisfaction but also a promising employment outlook. EIM and its university partners are ready to cultivate the future of qualified, well-equipped occupational therapists to meet the growing health care demands.