Many Paths to Leadership: Lessons From Losing an AOTA Election
Elizabeth Hart, MS, OTR/L
Attending the Assembly of Student Delegates (ASD) 2 years ago in San Diego was a game changer. I left energized and excited to help shape the future of our profession. I decided to run for a position on the ASD Steering Committee, and I threw my heart into my campaign—I built a website, filmed campaign videos, and spent countless hours reaching out to OT/A programs across the country. When I lost, I was devastated. I questioned whether I was even leadership material. Thankfully, the people who supported my campaign helped me realize that the only pre-requisite for leadership is a desire to serve. My campaign allowed me to define my values and goals as a leader and think about how I wanted to contribute to the profession. Losing the election closed off one leadership path, but it helped me discover so many more. If you’re passionate about occupational therapy and eager to help our profession fulfill the promise of the Centennial Vision, here are some avenues for you to exercise your leadership:
AOTA—Create a profile in the COOL! Database and find volunteer opportunities that match your interests, experience, and availability. Represent your school through the Assembly of Student Delegates. Develop your leadership skills by applying to the Emerging Leaders Development Program. Participate in the Special Interest Section Student Internship Program or apply for a fieldwork placement at AOTA headquarters. Support evidence-based practice by choosing a research topic in a priority research area through the Research Opportunities Tables. Help AOTA grow by setting up a Boardroom to Classroom session with a member of AOTA’s Board of Directors for your class or SOTA group and by encouraging your classmates to make the Student Centennial Commitment. Attend AOTA’s 95th Annual Conference & Expo in Nashville and connect with other leaders from across the country. There will be several sessions for aspiring leaders including:
- AOTA Volunteer Leadership Demystified (SC 231)—Friday, April 17th, from 3:30 pm–5 pm
- Leadership Development Networking Reception—Friday, April 17th, from 7 pm-8 pm
- AOTA Emerging Leaders Development Program: What, Why, Who, and How? (SC 321)—Saturday, April 18th, from 2 pm–3:30 pm. Questions can be submitted in advance on OT Connections or on Twitter using #AskELDC.
AOTPAC—If you have a passion for politics and professional advocacy, get involved with AOTPAC. AOTPAC furthers AOTA’s legislative agenda by supporting elected officials that support the profession of occupational therapy. Get your school involved with the Student Challenge and challenge other OT/A programs in your area to do the same. Contact the Director of your region and ask about joining AOTPAC’s Circle of Advisors.
State OT Association—State OT associations offer a wide variety of opportunities to get involved—from volunteering at conferences to serving on the Board of Directors. Many are eager to attract new graduates as they transition into practice, and some even have positions designated specifically for students. Reach out to your state OT association to see what their greatest needs are and how you can contribute.
School—As a new graduate and even as a student, you can serve the next generation of aspiring OT practitioners. Contact your program’s admissions coordinator and volunteer to serve as a resource for new applicants. Take on a leadership role in your SOTA and implement ideas from the SOTA Handbook. Many programs call upon graduates to serve as guest speakers and clinicians, so keep in touch with your professors and let them know that you’re interested in giving back.
Work—Leadership doesn’t depend on a job title. Even as a new practitioner, you can be a leader in your workplace. Employers value recent graduates for their connection to evidence-based practice. Use this toolkit to start a journal club to keep up with best practice. Start a lunch-and-learn series and sign up to give an in-service presentation on a topic of interest. Be a fieldwork educator. You need 1 year of practice to supervise Level II fieldwork students, but new practitioners can supervise Level I fieldwork students and applicants in need of observation hours. Network with practitioners in other settings in your community by starting a continuing education series devoted to your practice area.
Online—If you’re savvy about social media, consider using your online presence to promote occupational therapy. AOTA has tips to help get you started. Network with other OT professionals from across the country on OT Connections, start a blog focused on your practice area of interest, participate in a Twitter chat, or volunteer to help your state association manage their social media accounts.
Non-OT Organizations—You don’t need to hold a position within an OT organization to serve the profession of occupational therapy. There are countless organizations devoted to the conditions that OT practitioners address and the populations we serve. Some examples include the National Alliance for Mental Illness, Alzheimer’s Association, The National Aging in Place Council, Autism Society, Rebuilding Together, and the National Spinal Cord Injury Association. Getting involved in these organizations not only enhances your practice, it also allows you to serve as an OT ambassador and can foster valuable relationships with community stakeholders.
Elizabeth Hart is a recent MSOT graduate from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill and is currently working at a CCRC in Chapel Hill, NC. She is a participant in AOTA’s Emerging Leaders Development Program and serves as Social Media Chair for the North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association.
April 2015