4 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2024
The field of occupational therapy can look different depending on the setting but the primary goal is to help clients optimize their level of independence, says MSOT president Charlene Mathison.
Occupational therapists celebrate major milestone
MSOT MARK 60 YEARS OF HELPING MANITOBANS ACHIEVE THEIR PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL GOALS
By Wendy King I t’s a milestone year for the Manitoba Society of Occupational Therapists as 2024 marks the orga- nization’s 60th anniversary of providing profes- sional care towards improving the quality of life for thousands of Manitobans. MSOT represents the profession of occupational therapy and all occupational therapists in the province of Manitoba. For those interested in pursuing the profession, there’s good news: the need is greater than ever and employment prospects are very good. “The field of occupational therapy is really diverse and the role can look different depending on the set- ting, but the primary goal of occupational therapy is to help the client optimize their level of independence, meaning, and satisfaction in all aspects of their life,” says MSOT president Charlene Mathison, O.T.Reg. (MB). Mathison points out that the term occupation doesn’t necessarily refer to employment or paid work. “It refers to all of the activities that a person does throughout the day, and we use those occupations to help determine our intervention in supporting health and well-being. Occupational therapy takes the needs of the whole person into account: physical, emotional, cultural, so- cial, and spiritual,” she says. “It’s a client-centred health profession. We work
with clients to find out what is most important to them and work with them to achieve those goals.” Occupational therapists can provide therapy for those who are experiencing a wide range of challeng- es including physical or mental illness, injury or any other disabilities. Currently, more than 800 occupational therapists are registered to work in Manitoba, but the demand is high and the need is growing as new programs are developed and the value of occupational therapy is recognized in different areas of practice. “Jobs and opportunities are always emerging in practice areas. For example, there is an increased need for OTs to work with homeless people, more are needed in mental health programs, as well as helping people to navigate health services and social ser- vices,” she says. To pursue training as an occupational therapist, candidates are required to first complete an under- graduate degree which must include some specific courses. “The undergraduate degree could be a science de- gree or an arts degree which would include several required and recommended courses,” she says. “Then there is an application process which includes an interview. Once accepted, students enter the pro- gram to complete a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy at University of Manitoba.” Once the degree is completed, an occupational ther- apist can work in any area, but they can also choose to specialize.
Charlene Mathison, O.T.Reg. (MB), president at MSOT. SUPPLIED PHOTO
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