On Thursday, March 15, USciences occupational therapy students will attend the fourth annual Philadelphia Regional Intercollegiate Occupational Therapy Night at Philadelphia University. Philadelphia area OT students created the free event to offer networking opportunities with each other and OT employers, as well as to enjoy a dinner while listening to an allied health-related guest speaker.
“OT Night has become an annual event developed for OT students by OT students,” said Lynn Marass MOT’13. “The event will encourage and support OT students from the Philadelphia region in the development of habits that support their community, advocate for their profession, and ultimately lead to lifelong learning,” she added.
The event this year will host keynote speaker Kathleen Yancosek, occupational therapist and an officer in the Army Medical Specialist Corps. Yancosek co-authored "Handwriting for Heroes," a book about use of the non-dominant hand for daily tasks when the dominant hand no longer functions properly. At the event, Yancosek will speak of her personal experiences as an occupational therapist in the Army.
The newest feature of this year's OT Night aims to serve the community. Each school has been collecting donations for Project H.O.M.E., a program that supports the homeless community of Philadelphia. USciences OT students have been accumulating shampoo, soap, lotion, and deodorant for the cause.
“This year, I am especially excited about the addition of a service component. The donations for Project H.O.M.E. stand in the name of The Occupational Therapy Global Day of Service, a national initiative to promote the profession within communities across the U.S,” Marass said.
In addition to a contingent from USciences, OT students from Temple University, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia University, Richard Stockton University, Harcum College and Alvernia University will be present. The event was held at USciences the last two years.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the event, please contact Lynn Marass MOT’13 at lmarass@mail.usp.edu.