University of Scranton graduate students Kathleen Phelan and Courtney Ruch (pictured left to right) and faculty mentors Verna Eschenfelder, and Marlene Morgan, EdD, OTRL presented a poster on A Relational Content Analysis of Current and Future Pedagogical Instruction of Motor Control Approaches. Being a global profession means continuously developing the means by which expertise and knowledge are shared to address challenges that our clients face, taking into account the many varying regions, countries, conditions, and settings. It is both our diversity as a profession and our ability to draw on the pool of our diversity that makes us effective. United States, Canada, and Ireland, and attendees presented 404 oral papers, 303 posters, 13 symposia, and 87 workshops. Highlights included an opening ceremony featuring harp, whistle, and fiddle music as well as a greeting in Gaelic from the president of the university. Although this was a European Congress, there were many attendees from the United States. Some of the presenters included Karen Jacobs, EdD, CPE, OTR/L, FAOTA, from Boston University; George Tomlin, PhD, OTR/L, from the University of Puget Sound; Nancy Krusen, PhD, OTR/L, from Pacific University; Katherine Phelan, Courtney Ruch, Verna Eschenfelder, PhD, OTR/L, Marlene Morgan, EdD, OTRL, and Rita Fleming-Castaldy, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, from the University of Scranton; Kristine Haertl, PhD, ACE, OTR/L, FAOTA, from St. Catherine University; Donna Costa, DHS, OTR/L, FAOTA, from Touro University; Peggy Martin, PhD, OTR/L (OT), from the University of Minnesota; Susan Burwash, PhD, OTR/L, and Diane Norell, MSW, OTR/L, CPRP, from Eastern Washington University; and Pollie Price, PhD, OTR/L, from the University of Utah. Bill Wong, OTD, OTR/L, both presented and contributed to the Twitter feed from the Congress. Shannon Brawley, a new OTR from Wenatchee, Washington, presented narrative inquiry research into homeless women’s experiences at a drop-in center. Also attending were then AOTA President Virginia Stoffel, PhD, OT, BCMH, FAOTA, and then AOTA President-Elect Amy Lamb, OTD, OT/L, FAOTA, AOTA. One of the aims of the joint Congress was to launch the public face of occupational therapy in Europe through the shared visual identity of the website, but also as a shared voice, demonstrating the collaborative power of both COTEC and ENOTHE. As such, the executives of the Congress identified eight areas of significant interest for the profession to be considered and addressed at a European level and created workshops for delegates to contribute to the discussions and direction of the conversation. Congress delegates were asked to choose one of the following workshops in which to consider these key topics: l The importance of evidence-based practice l The accessibility of occupational therapists in primary care across Europe l The increasing number of occupational therapists working with refugees l The struggle in many countries to provide sufficient fieldwork opportunities l The successes and challenges of curriculum development for occupational therapy in emerging areas l The role of practitioners in social and political changes l E-health as a developing area in medical practice l Creating and developing a self-sustaining research branch of ENOTHE The Brexit vote, which followed hard on the heels of the COTEC-ENOTHE Congress, highlights recent European sociopolitical discourse in which the specters of disunity, separation, and nationalism reared their heads. This discourse is, of course, not limited to the Eurozone. The conference theme of connecting seems especially relevant in this context. It remains more important than ever that the profession is outward looking, collaborative, and “without borders.” Being a global profession means continuously developing the means by which expertise and knowledge are shared to address challenges that our clients face, taking into account the many varying regions, countries, conditions, and settings. It is both our diversity as a profession and our ability to draw on the pool of our diversity that makes us effective. The next COTEC-ENOTHE joint Congress is scheduled for Prague in 2020. Perhaps we’ll see you there? In the meanwhile, slán go fóill (goodbye for now). Thomas Hawksworth is recent graduate of the bachelor of science Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Derby, United Kingdom, and is now working for the U.K. National Health Service’s Priory Group with Eating Disorders in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Susan Burwash, PhD, MSc(OT), OTR/L, OT(C), is an associate professor at Eastern Washington University. Shannon Brawley, MOT, OTR/L, is a recent graduate of the Occupational Therapy Program at Eastern Washington University. 24 AUGUST 22, 2016 • WWW.AOTA.ORG
Save the dates! AOTA Specialty Conferences and Student Conclave www.aota.org/conferences Autism September 23–24, 2016 Cleveland, Ohio Registration Now Open! AOTA/NBCOT National Student Conclave November 18–19, 2016 Dearborn, Michigan Registration Opens August 24! Chronic Conditions December 2–3, 2016 Orlando, Florida Registration Opens September 7! Oncology January 20–21, 2017 Houston, Texas Registration Opens October 25! SP-119
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