Month: September 2015

AOTA Conference 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee

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This year, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) annual conference was held in April in Nashville, Tennessee. Loma Linda University MOT students representing the first and second year classes were able to attend. Lindsey shares about her experience below.

The AOTA Conference in Nashville, TN was so inspiring and created in me a deeper passion for our beloved profession of Occupational Therapy. I was honored and blessed to have attended the conference and grow as both a professional and an individual. I was presented with ample opportunities to meet with colleagues and discuss various topics within our scope of practice. At the Expo Hall I was able to see first hand how the innovative technological advances are beneficial to our future clients and their independence. I was fascinated by the generosity and willingness of researchers to educate us students and share their passion with us.
I developed a greater appreciation and deeper understanding of the kind of difference we as Occupational Therapists can make. I loved the camaraderie and energy of all the students, faculty, staff, members and nonmembers that were representing OT throughout the city. I was motivated to continue to advocate and spread awareness for our beautiful and life changing profession.
Lindsey Loftus
LLU MOT class of 2016

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Compiled by Megan Meyer
LLU MOT class of 2016

Fundraisers for Student Occupational Therapy Association

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The goal of Loma Linda’s Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) is to advocate for and promote the profession and help make a difference in our community. SOTA officers plan community service events, organize social events and a mentor/mentee program, advocate and spread the word about OT, take pictures to document memories, and plan events to raise money. The money raised contributes to the overarching goal of advocating for and promoting OT. The fundraising events are fun and creative ways to get involved.
Past events include hosting car washes, selling OT t-shirts and sweatshirts, and restaurant fundraisers. One recent event was a Chipotle fundraiser. The event took place on March 3, 2015 and was a huge success. It was a fun way to bring the classes together and enjoy good company, conversation, laughs, and food before the quarter ended. SOTA raised $120 from this event and a percentage of the money helped support two students attend this year’s AOTA conference in Nashville in April. SOTA is excited to use the remainder of the money to plan other great events and continue spreading its passion for OT.
SOTA has another fundraiser planned for Tuesday, September 29th to ring in the fall quarter at Nubi Frozen Yogurt in Redlands. We can’t wait!348s

Megan Meyer
LLU MOT class of 2016

Mission Experiences

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Loma Linda Occupational Therapy students are serving not only their community, but the world as well. Below are a few reflections of Loma Linda OT students serving through LLU Mission Trips.

I went on a mission trip in December 2014 to Belize through SIMS (Student International Mission Services). God is so good and showed up in massive ways on the trip. He knit together a group of 20 women from several different programs (occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech, nursing, child life, physician assistant, ministry, and public health) at LLU and He equipped us with tools, gifts and talents to serve the community in Belize and do His work there. We led 6 days of a health fair in rural villages. The health fair booths included heart health, nutrition, exercise, massage, respiratory health, women’s health, and general health. It was amazing to get to know these kind and loving communities. In a country where OT is not a present health service provided, I was blessed to have OT moments, including helping people with body mechanics while gardening, cooking and doing laundry. I also had the privilege of teaching infant massage to one of the fathers. Each night, we led Vacation Bible School (VBS) for the children and nearly 50-60 kids would somehow hear about VBS and show up to sing about Jesus, listen to a Bible story and do a craft. The joy in their eyes from is something I will never forget. The people I met on my trip will forever have a place in my heart and I am so grateful for this experience!
Megan Meyer
LLU MOT class of 2016

Pictures from Belize:

Leading Vacation Bible School: Belize Mission Trip
Teaching Health, Wellness, Exercise, Nutrition, and Body Mechanics: Belize Mission Trip
Wellness Fair hosted by LLU in the villages of Belize
Snorkeling in Belize

As cliché as it might sound, my Honduras mission trip experience was simply amazing. This was the first time Loma Linda University had visited the nutritional rehabilitation center called Pan American Health Services in Pena Blanca, Honduras. Through meetings and planning before we left, the occupational therapy and speech therapy volunteers met together to discuss potential needs of the children. Being able to practice my newly acquired occupational therapy skills on a mission trip was a great way to enhance my clinical knowledge and experience. Because we had not been to Pan American before, we did not exactly know what to expect, making much of this mission trip a needs assessment for the future. We spent much of our day spending time with the infants and toddlers, educating caregivers on postural positioning for control and strength, oral motor development and stimulation, feeding techniques for decreasing chances of aspiration, etc. We were even able to discuss the mental health of the caregivers, and educate them on ways to increase their quality of life while doing their difficult daily job of caring for the young, malnourished children. We spent our afternoons socializing and building relationships with the older children by playing soccer and baseball games, jump rope, art activities, cards, Jenga, and we even got to help them with their homework! The joy and love we all felt spending time together was mutual, and they showed great appreciation all the games and activities we had to offer. Another great aspect of the trip was forming new friendships with my fellow student volunteers. It was great working with like-minded individuals with a desire to help others. I loved exploring the town of Pena Blanca, meeting the locals, and spending time in the rainforest. Lastly, being able to have this trip to be renewal for myself was vital. The country was beautiful, the people I met were amazing, and the work I was able to do was inspiring. Through this trip, I was able to take time to see the beauty in the world and enhance my spirituality, making my relationship with God even stronger. I had a wonderful time, and I cannot wait to go back and offer more of myself to Pan American Health Services.
Katie Puccio
LLU MOT class of 2016

Pictures from Honduras:

Playing with the Honduran children
Honduras Mission Trip
OT group photo: Honduras Mission Trip

Compiled by:
Megan Meyer
LLU MOT class of 2016