Professional Development Plan
Located here is a development plan for my future and current professional career.
Career Areas of Interest
Get to Know My Passions
I have always wanted to work with the pediatric population, and recently I have developed a passion for working with those with mental health concerns. I am drawn to both outpatient and community settings. I am driven by advocating for the underprivileged and helping others regain or establish independence and occupational balance.
Post Graduation Goals
1 year-Practice
Within 6 months of graduation, find a position in a pediatric community setting, such as a school, within 40 miles of Cleveland, Ohio.
Objectives:
Complete additional shadowing hours at a school to create connections.
Apply to 3 jobs each week within 40 miles of Cleveland, OH.
1 year-Practice/Leadership
Within 1 year of graduation, collaborate with field experts to advocate for mental health in schools through the completion of at least 1 presentation.
Objectives:
Maintain current professional connections and continue to build a network of like-minded professionals within 3 months of graduation.
Complete 1 advocacy presentation within 1 year of graduation.
5 year-Practice
Attend AOTA Conference in 2028 to expand knowledge of different emerging areas of practice and other educational issues related to occupational therapy by attending at least 3 short courses.
Objectives:
Save money each paycheck to afford to go to the conference.
Attend two lectures at the conference regarding emerging practice.
5 year-Practice/Leadership
Host a fieldwork student for at least 1 level one rotation within 3 years of graduation.
Objectives:
Connect with the local OT schools after I have been a licensed therapist for at least 1 year.
Read at least 3 articles on clinical instruction.
OTD Program Goals
Heading 5
Goal 1:
Determine the setting of practice and population that I most enjoy by the end of my second rotation in level II fieldwork.
Objectives:
Work in two different settings for each fieldwork rotation to gain experience in different areas.
Journal after each fieldwork rotation to ensure that I remember what I enjoyed and disliked about each experience.
Goal 2:
Before the end of the program, I will explore the publication of my scoping review.
Objectives:
Meet with Barbara Elleman for an initial discussion meeting about the possibility of publication.
Submit the scoping review to one journal before the end of the program.
Capstone Goals
Goal 1:
Create and implement at least one effective social-emotional regulation strategy during the program implementation phase of my project.
Objectives:
Complete research on current social-emotional learning and coping strategies proven to be effective with the desired age range (3rd-5th grade).
Establish and administer outcome measures to determine if there was a statistically significant change as a result of the program.
Goal 2:
Complete at least one advocacy educational presentation based on the findings of my research and program implementation to promote OT's role in mental health by graduation.
Objectives:
Create a presentation that summarizes the project and appeals to the specific audience to whom I am presenting.
Connect with at least one organization in the Cincinnati region that would benefit from hearing the presentation and could help expand OT's role in mental health.
Reflection
As mentioned previously, the results of my personality, learning styles, and strengths are not entirely surprising to me. My OTD Program goals related to caring for others and finding my setting align very well with my personality, as one of my recommended positions based on my personality is an occupational therapist. I am able to deeply care for others, and can better create and follow a plan to achieve my goals. The ability to plan to achieve all my goals is actually a strength of mine as well, in addition to remaining focused and striving to achieve. These strengths will help push me through the program and towards my goals afterwards, as I will not stop working until my goals are achieved. My strength of harmony will be especially helpful when I am working with others on my capstone and in my pediatric community setting. My learning styles are an even blend of all three, allowing me to gain knowledge best in a variety of formats, This will help me to achieve my educational goals through allowing me to better understand information to achieve my goal of finishing the program. Since different professors and presenters share information in different ways, my blend of learning styles promotes my understanding of material in a variety of different settings.