(Under) Representation Series: Occupational Therapy

The DEI Shift's mission is to create a podcast series on diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) in medicine that sparks discussion and provides practice-changing data and stories for a physician, student, allied health professional, and health care leader audience. Listeners will be able to gain useful information to improve their practices and environments, to gain empathy, cultural competency, and humility, and to learn more about emerging D.E.I. concepts. The DEI Shift will discuss issues related to gender, race, sexuality, religion, ability, socioeconomics, and so much more.

Host/Co-Executive Director: Dr. Maggie Kozman

Guest: Daniel Alison, OTD

Production Assistants: Clara Baek, Ann Truong, Sanika Walimbe

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize and understand the importance of listening to the diverse voices of an underrepresented healthcare field, such as occupational therapy.
2. Analyze and brainstorm the various barriers to recruitment and retention of underrepresented OTs.
3. Examine how the lessons learned from OT can be utilized to foster diversity and inclusion in all healthcare fields and enhance opportunities for underrepresented groups in all professions.

[00:00 - 01:14] Introduction of Host and Episode Topic

• Dr. Maggie Kozman introduces the episode under the podcast’s ongoing series highlighting underrepresented healthcare professions.
• This episode highlights occupational therapy (OT), a branch of rehabilitative medicine, particularly focusing on the demographic disparities in OT, the barriers to entry, and the ongoing organizational and personal efforts to increase diversity in the field.

[01:14 - 03:14] Introducing Guest: Daniel Alison

• Daniel Alison, an occupational therapist in San Diego, California, works in acute care with hospitalized patients and a skilled nursing facility. In addition, he has worked as a rehab director for a large, independent living facility in San Diego.
• Daniel discusses his ongoing, entrepreneurial ventures in addition to his full-time job as an OT and a father.

[03:31 - 09:02] Daniel’s Daily Work Life and Path to Occupational Therapy

• Daniel’s day-to-day as an OT and his unique approach to meeting with patients.

• A powerful anecdote on Daniel’s introduction to occupational therapy and rehabilitation medicine and how this life-changing experience enhanced his ability to provide compassionate and empathetic care.
• A chance encounter with a university dean of occupational therapy unexpectedly led to a career switch to OT.

[09:02 - 14:12] Demographic Disparities in OT and Challenges in OT Recruitment

• According to 2019 data from AOTA, 84% of OTs self-identify as non-Hispanic White and 4% Black.  https://library.aota.org/AOTA-Workforce-Salary-Survey-2019/
• In terms of gender distribution, only 10% of OT practitioners, including students in OT masters and doctoral programs, self-identify as male. Factors Influencing the Diversity of Occupational Therapy Students (2022)
• Daniel delves into some of the factors that may contribute to these disparities, such as the affordability of an OT program.
• Daniel discusses the challenges in finding a mentor who has similar lived experiences.

[14:12 - 15:54] Personal Experiences as a Black Male OT

• Daniel reveals a workplace experience where people of color were being notably discriminated against and how he navigated the situation.

[15:55 - 23:08] Barriers to Success and Retention of Minority Groups in OT

• Daniel and Maggie discuss the various barriers: recruitment and retention of Black and Hispanic or Latinx applicants into OT, lack of early exposure to the field, and lacking financial resources.
• In addition, another barrier is the deficiency in support and resources for these minority groups once entering the field.
• Daniel recalls a prejudiced encounter and the interpersonal and intrapersonal challenges of navigating a field with limited racial, ethnic, and gender representation.

[23:09 - 30:56] Ongoing Efforts to Increase Diversity in OT

• The responsibility of healthcare professionals, particularly in underrepresented fields such as OT, to provide kids with early exposure to various healthcare career types.
• Several initiatives are aimed at improving diversity. One includes the ACOTE (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education) where they implemented a strategy in 2021 to recruit and retain students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Increasing Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Occupational Therapy Education: The Role of Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®) Standards (2021)
• Other organizations include the Multicultural Diversity and Inclusion Network, the National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus, and the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD).

[30:57 - 31:38] Daniel’s Last Takeaway for Listeners

• Daniel emphasizes the importance of bringing your best self every day and how this mindset can positively reverberate in all interactions, inside and outside of work.

Credits:

• Guest: Daniel Alison, ODT
• Host/Co-Executive Producer: Dr. Maggie Kozman
• Executive Producer: Dr. Tammy Lin
• Co-Executive Producer: Dr. Pooja Jaeel
• Senior Producer: Dr. Dirk Gaines
• Managing Producer: Joanna Jain
• Production Assistants: Clara Baek, Ann Truong, Sanika Walimbe
• Website/Art Design: Ann Truong
• Music: Chris Dingman https://www.chrisdingman.com

Resources:

• American Occupational Therapy Association (2020c). 2019 Workforce and Salary Survey. https://library.aota.org/AOTA-Workforce-Salary-Survey-2019/
• Diversity and Inclusion in Occupational Therapy: Where We Are, Where We Must Go (2017)
• Factors Influencing the Diversity of Occupational Therapy Students (2022)
• Harvison, N. AOTA academic affairs updates [Meeting presentation]. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference & Expo. April 4-7, 2019. New Orleans, LA, United States.
• https://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Educators/Academitc-Leadership-Councils-Meeting-Presentations.aspx
• Harvison, N. AOTA Academic Programs Annual Data Report: Academic Year 2022–2023. 2024.
• https://www.aota.org/-/media/corporate/files/educationcareers/educators/2022-2023-annual-data-report.pdf
• Increasing Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Occupational Therapy Education: The Role of Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®) Standards (2021)
• Leading the OT Profession Toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Let’s Talk Academia | The American Journal of Occupational Therapy (2022)
• Making a difference: Belonging, diversity and inclusion in occupational therapy (2021, UK)
• Project MUSE - Underrepresented Minority Recruitment: Manpower as Motivator in Late Twentieth-Century Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy

Contributors

• Daniel Allison, ODT - Guest
• Pooja Jaeel, MD, ACP Member –  Co- executive producer
• Maggie Kozman, MD, ACP Member – Co-executive producer
• Tammy Lin, MD, MPH, FACP – Executive Producer
• Ann Truong – Production Assistant
• Clara Baek – Production Assistant
• Sanika Walimbe – Production Assistant
• DJ Gaines, MD – Senior Producer
• Joanna Jain – Managing Producer

Reviewers

• Ankita Sagar, MD, MPH, FACP
• Tammy Lin, MD, MPH, FACP

None of the contributors or reviewers for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.  All financial relationships have been mitigated.

Release Date:  March 14, 2025

Expiration Date: March 13, 2028

Accreditation Statements

CME Credit

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the American College of Physicians and the DEI Shift.  The American College of Physicians is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American College of Physicians designates each enduring material (podcast) for 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ABIM Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Points

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to .5 medical knowledge MOC Point in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program.  Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

How to Claim CME Credit and MOC Points

After listening to the podcast, complete a brief survey and multiple-choice question quiz.  To claim CME credit and MOC points you must achieve a minimum passing score of 66%.  You may take the quiz multiple times to achieve a passing score.