CHCS Perspectives Summer/Fall 2013

PERSPECTIVES • SUMMER-FALL 2013 – Page 28 A group of five Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T) student researchers is conducting a study entitled “NSU Health Care Professionals Students’ Knowledge About the Occupational Therapy Profession.” The research study’s goal is to assess the knowledge of health care professional students regarding the career of occupational therapy as well as to educate their future co-professionals. The M.O.T. students’ goal was to see if an informative seminar during a one-hour lunch period was sufficient time to educate their co-professionals on their career. A questionnaire was given at the beginning of the presentation to assess prior knowledge. After a short video, PowerPoint presentation, and Q&A session, a follow-up questionnaire was given. The pre- senters discussed who they commonly work with, their pa- tient/client base, where they work, and what their goals are as occupational therapists. Three sessions will be held and students from the programs of audiology, osteopathic medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant, and optometry were invited. An audiology student in attendance shared that she enjoyed the presentation and learned quite a bit about the profession during the one-hour lunch seminar. Study results will be available at the end of March 2014. This is a wonderful initiative that will hopefully foster a spirit of interprofessional collaboration and growth. M.O.T. student researchers Klaudia Kulpa, Samantha Kirschner, Harami Rodriguez, Chia-Chun Chang, and Justine Bunville presenting to their co-professionals about the occupational therapy field. Occupational Therapy Student Research Study The University of the Philippines (UP) College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP) honored Ri- cardo C. Carrasco, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, chair of the NSU Tampa Department of Occupational Therapy, with a coveted CAMP Big 50 Award. The accolade recognizes a group of 50 key persons who made a mark on the college and were part of CAMP’s contribution to nation-building during the past 50 years. “I am proud to be a CAMP alumnus, and I always wear the sablay (sash symbolizing scholarship) to identify myself with the university and to distinguish myself from other academics who have graduated elsewhere.” The award ceremony occurred during the Baliek CAMP celebrations on December 12, 2012, at the Villa Immaculada in Intramuros, Manila. Unfortunately, Dr. Carrasco was not in the country at the time and did not accept the award personally. However, he was able to express how deeply honored and humbled he was to be in the company of other Big 50 awardees in celebration of CAMP’s 50 th anniversary on an acceptance video he submitted. “My cultural roots are Filipino, and my occupational therapy and education founda- tions are from UP, and I am always quick to say I could not have achieved any of my ac- complishments without the preparation I received frommy mentors and colleagues from the University of the Philippines and the Filipino and global communities,” he said. OT Tampa Dr. Ricardo Carrasco University of the Philippines Honors NSU Tampa OT Department Chair