Document Type

Student Paper

Publication Date

2017

Abstract

The purpose of the project is to gather information about the history and evolution of occupational therapy (OT) practice in North Dakota and Wyoming through life histories of individuals who have been influential in developing OT in these two states. This study is intended to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice. A life history approach was utilized to allow the focus to be on the participant’s involvement in the evolution of occupational therapy practice. The Kawa model was used as a guide throughout this study, which yielded information about the participants life. Two student researchers interviewed LaDonna, who has been an OT practitioner for almost 17 years. She graduated from the UND OT program with her bachelors in occupational therapy in 2000. In 2004, she became the CEO and president of Beyond Boundaries Therapy in Fargo, North Dakota, a pediatric private practice where she currently works. A semi-structured phone interview was conducted in a private room in the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences building by Kelsey Raymond and Shelby Wassink. Four categories were then derived from the codes that were gathered through the interview transcription, which are business owner, clinical practice, practice dynamics, and professional journey. From this data, themes one final assertion were created. The assertion is as follows: LaDonna is an occupational therapist who is actively involved in the OT profession, exhibits compassion and empathy to treat her clients in a holistic manner, and utilizes interdisciplinary collaboration among co-workers and clients to provide the best care for all those in need through her private pediatric practice.

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