President’s Message

First off… ten days until the Annual Conference! If you haven’t registered and are planning to attend, please do so soon! If you have already registered, we can’t wait to see you at the Hilton Columbus at Easton for two days of education, connection, and community. 

Now that the conference plug is out of the way, I want to take this opportunity on the eve of OOTA’s 55th anniversary to thank you for everything you contribute each day to your teams, communities, families, and peers. 

As OOTA President, I get to see firsthand how generous those in our professional community are with their time, energy, perspective, and feedback. All of OOTA’s programming – from the conference, to our on-demand CE offerings, to Hill Day in May – is only made possible because an OT practitioner or student stepped forward to participate. 

Even before someone volunteers to present a webinar or coordinate an event, someone has stepped forward with the idea that is eventually made real through the work of one of OOTA’s many committees and volunteer groups. 

In the age of A.I. this sort of collaborative, consensus-driven, mission-focused work feels increasingly rare. Not to say that it doesn’t make sense why A.I. tools are (at least right now) being used across industries! The “efficiency and streamlining” that A.I. promises should provide welcome relief during a period when people are contending with so much information, connectedness, and pressure…

At the same time, sometimes the “scenic route” of group decision-making can provide knock-on benefits that are equally valuable to whatever goal is being explicitly pursued by the group.

We are so lucky in OOTA to have volunteer leadership who consistently go out of their way to protect the psychological safety of all participants, within both the virtual and in-person spaces we share. Creating this environment is not easy work, but it is absolutely essential if individuals are going to connect with one another, align their efforts and perspectives, and move forward in sync towards mutual aspirations.

Frankly, this is the sort of work that is precisely suited to OT practitioners. Collectively, we hold the unique position and privilege of being agents of change for individuals’ bodies, brains, and spirits. Physical, mental, and social wellbeing all fall under our purview as professionals. 

Not only this, but even those who do not seek out occupational therapy services directly are impacted by our work, as they navigate environments designed through consultation with OT professionals, which have been modified to be more inclusive and accessible.

All this to say, when you are working alongside your colleagues and peers, whether with OOTA or elsewhere, thank you for keeping the relationships that ground this work front and center, even as professional and institutional pressures draw on our attention and energy reserves. 

This organization – your organization – only exists because a group of OT practitioners got together to improve the circumstances for their professional peers and the communities they served. As we carry their legacy forward in Ohio, I hope that we embody not only their desire to improve OT practice and education, but also their desire to do that difficult improvement-work together.

Today, when we can “ask chat” with greater convenience and potentially greater comfort, we need to make sure we never lose sight of this professional community as a source of information, and what’s more, a source of wisdom. Thank you for adding your perspective and energy to our collective “database” of experience and insight. 

As we look forward to the next 55 years for OOTA, I am invigorated by our potential, continually impressed by our accomplishments, and humbled by the privilege of supporting your goals in my role as president of this association.

Looking forward to seeing you in just over a week!