2024 FOTA Connect Member Sessions

Course abstract: Occupational therapists working in healthcare, community and school based settings, private practice and academia are challenged with helping people, communities and populations attain and engage in valued occupations. The role often includes conceptualizing the scope and the human challenge of occupational disruption. The role also includes supporting acceptance and adapting to trauma, disability and life challenges. Inherent to this role is the witnessing of suffering, disparity and occupational disruption. Promoting resilience and adaptability is in part dependent upon the practitioner's capacity to removing barriers to participation and bring hope. This long term investment of energy over the course of a practice, sometimes transfers into "burnout" and “compassion fatigue”. Research supporting identification of the signs of burnout and compassion fatigue will be shared as well as strategies to mitigate this and support overall wellbeing. Both a practitioner centered approach as well as a workforce and population centered approach will be shared. Impact on quality of life and overall health and wellbeing will be discussed. Primary and secondary screening strategies for oneself as well as the "work environment" will be shared.

Course Objectives: 
Participants will explore both the deleterious impact on physiology with burnout and compassion fatigue as well as the prevalence and impact on the workforce. Participants will apply knowledge in two cases studies, to create potential solutions for both a Client or themself as well as a practice location or workplace. The OTPF-4 will be used to support alignment with occupational therapy practice. Participants will have an opportunity to participate in quick and easy learning activities supporting health promotion through cognitive mediation and self-regulation with evidence based strategies.

Speaker description:
Marcia Hamilton, is an occupational therapy practitioner with 41-years of practice, 10 in academia and 32 years of clinical practice, in diverse areas including developmental disabilities, long term care, schools, early intervention, homecare, private practice and primary care. She earned her OTD from South University, her Master of Science in Health Science, in Integrative Medicine from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, and her BSOT from Kean University. Dr. Hamilton serves as the USAHS, Miami Campus, Occupational Therapy, Academic Program Director. She enjoys the incredible opportunities she has everyday working with students and faculty in a rich environment of interprofessional collaboration, state of the art technology and community partnerships.