(L to R) Czynara Gerard Patio and Maya Blair are both excited to start the master of occupational therapy program this year.
Occupational therapy program welcomes largest class to date
The College of Rehabilitation Sciences welcomed 55 new occupational therapy (OT) students at a ceremony on Bannatyne campus on August 26. The class size increased by five from previous years, and next year will increase again to 60 incoming students.
Dr. Jacquie Ripat, professor, registered occupational therapist and vice-dean (academic affairs) of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, spoke to the incoming class about the importance of their chosen profession.
“(Occupational therapists) are community builders They work closely with individuals, families and groups to create supportive networks and environments. Whether organizing support groups, engaging in community outreach or partnering with local organizations, they play a crucial role in connecting people with resources and opportunities,” she said.
Ripat, who was named the first Endowed Chair in Technology for Assisted Living earlier this year, also spoke about the role innovation plays in occupational therapy, pointing to the sensorized “smart suite” model apartment the college recently developed at Health Sciences Centre as an example.
“By embracing a mindset of curiosity and creativity, occupational therapists not only solve existing problems but also anticipate and address future challenges in their field. This innovative spirit helps to drive the profession forward and improves the quality of life for those they serve.”
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) Manitoba board director Brenda Semenko was in attendance to provide greetings and to present the incoming occupational therapy students with a CAOT pin to provide a physical token of their entrance into the profession. She told the group that she still learns something new in the profession every day.
“You might find that this journey will change you, in ways that will become more apparent over the next many months. Your understanding of the value of meaningful activity or ‘occupation’ will start to influence the way you think about everything – even when you’re not at school or work,” Semenko said. “The COVID-19 pandemic taught us many important lessons about the necessity of meaningful, productive daily activity and what happens when that is not possible.”
The class was also greeted by OT class president Sarah Klassen, who encouraged them to take advantage of peer support through the program’s mentor/mentee system between first- and second-year students.
“When I came into the program, I was really lost, and I felt like I didn’t know what to do and where to go. [With my mentor], I had someone I looked up to and I knew I had someone I could go to for questions. I could look to her and it gave me relief. It was so helpful to be able to speak to someone who has done it before,” she said.
Maya Blair, 23, grew up in Oakbank, Man. and has lived in Winnipeg for the last five years. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UM and conducted research in the psychology department’s early years reading lab. She is looking forward to exploring the versatility of the profession.
“You can work with all ages and all backgrounds, public and private, schools. That’s what drew me to OT – it’s exciting,” she said.
Czynara Gerard Patio, 28, comes to the program with an undergraduate degree in biology from the Philippines. She was interested in occupational therapy because of the profession’s holistic view on health.
“When someone loses the ability to do something, it changes something in them and I want to help give that back to them,” she said.