An Occupational Therapist's Journey
With Krysti Teng, MS, OTR/L
Thurs 6.20.24 | 10:00 - 10:45am
Agenda
10:00-10:05am | Introductions + Agenda |
10:05-10:10am | What is OT? |
10:10-10:15am | Story as a Pre-OT student |
10:15-10:20am | Story Post-Undergrad |
10:20-10:25am | Story as an OTR/L |
10:25-10:30am | Typical Day as a School-Based OT / Volunteering with AOTA |
10:30-10:35am | Tips and Tricks |
10:35-10:45am | Q&A |
What is OT?
Occupational Therapy looks at all components that fulfill a person’s day. That is the time someone wakes up from the time they go to sleep. And everything in between.
An occupational therapist helps aid people across the lifespan in getting them to do the things they need to do (or should be doing) aka Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
OT is derived from the word “occupations,” which is any activity that occupies your day.
(my “elevator pitch”)
My Journey to OT (⅓)
01
02
03
1990s
I’m a millennial :)
Middle School - High School
Volunteering w/ Glendale Adventist Medical Center (GAMC)
Pre-OT at
LMU / USC
Volunteering w/ GAMC again +
Occupational Science / pre-OT courses
Mid 2000s
Early - Mid 2010s
Getting interested into OT
My momma as a PT
“Grandfathered in” as a Masters level, while her industry began the transition to Doctorate
Volunteering w/ GAMC Summer Camps (outpatient pediatrics) and Inpatient (acute rehab and cardiac units)
01
02
03
Occupational Science courses at USC
Fulfilled my minor, met incredible professors, and learned about occupational justice
Interest in community service and making a big impact on little lives
+
Working with adult population in fast paced environment
My Journey to OT (⅔)
04
05
06
2014 TFA South Louisiana Corps
Rural Public + Urban Charter school placements
2014-2016
Achievement First North Brooklyn Prep
School Operations
2016-2017
Final Application Round!
Accepted and Committed to Columbia University
2017
Post-Undergrad Life
Intense middle school placements with TFA South Louisiana
Learned what it takes to bridge the opportunity gap and learned more what my role may (or may not!) be
Working School Operations in Brooklyn, NY
04
05
06
At a crossroads, opted into OT!
And my partner and I got to stay in NYC! I never would have thought!
Thinking bigger picture and how to independently run systems efficiently
+
diverse school settings
My Journey to OT (3/3)
07
08
09
OT Masters Program
including Fieldwork placements
2017-2019
Studying for Boards + Landing First OT Job
Covid happened…stayed at my parents house in Pasadena, CA
2019-2021
UCLA Lab School and AOTA!
A combination of all my interests!
Today!
OT Life
Columbia University OT Experience
Opened my perspectives into different settings….but overall knew I would end up back in Pediatrics
Post Grad School Life + Networking to Land First OT Job + Becoming SI certified during Covid remote learning
07
08
09
Today at the UCLA Lab School and AOTA!
All my passions combined into one :)
The OT World is TINY!
+
Expect the unexpected
School Based vs. Medical Model
School Based Goals vs. Medical Model Goals
Day in the Life as a School-Based OT
at the UCLA Lab School
7:45-8:00am | Prep for Sessions, Check in (consult) w/ Teachers + school team (psych, inclusion assistants, admin) |
8:00-8:30am | Students are in Morning Meeting, catch up on Notes/ Reports |
8:30-11:30am | ~4-5 Morning Group + Direct Sessions… could be pushing in or pulling out to the OT Room |
11:30-12:30pm | Lunch, catch up on emails |
12:30-2:30pm | ~4-5 Afternoon Group + Direct Sessions… could be sensory integration or fine motor sessions |
2:30-3:00pm | Clean up OT Room, check on Inventory, prep for next day |
3:00-4:30pm | Child Study Team (Equiv. To IEP) Mtgs, Faculty Mtgs |
(All pictures are presenters’ own)
Volunteering with AOTA
(All pictures are presenters’ own)
Tips and Tricks