Who?
Occupational therapy students in their last semester travel
to Ethiopia to complete their final practice placement. Requirements include
demonstration of exceptional maturity and dedication to the profession of
occupational therapy. Currently the program partners with two European
universities and is open for expansion. Please contact us if you are interested
in participation.
What?
The practice placement is a unique experience which focuses
on transformational learning, community based rehabilitation, service learning,
role emerging practice, and culturally responsive care. Students are given
action oriented and reflective assignments throughout their 10-12 week stay and
required to complete a service-learning project with a partner organization. Some
students also complete a thesis and/or field study research as per the
requirements of their universities and time is allotted for these projects
throughout the curriculum.
When?
Typically the program runs for 10-12 weeks from mid to late
February or beginning of March through May, depending on the schedule of the
participating universities.
Where?
Currently we operate in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia,
and partner with pediatric organizations but have possibilities for expansion
to other regions and populations according to interest.
Why?
This program is intended for students who have an interest
in self-reflection, deepening their professional skills in relevant areas, and
experiencing a deep transformation during the learning process. The development
of skills in role emerging practice settings, cultural responsiveness, and community-based
rehabilitation are important trends for the future of occupational therapy
practitioners around the world and the occupational therapy capacity on the
African continent is still very low. Participation in this program aids the
future practitioner as well as the local community and the profession of
occupational therapy as a whole through demonstration of the utility of
occupational therapy to local populations.
Dr. Toporek received her advanced clinical doctorate in occupational
therapy specializing in pediatrics in 2012 from Rocky Mountain University of
Health Professions and developed this program as her capstone. She received her
undergraduate degree in occupational therapy from Medical College of Georgia
(now Augusta University) in 1999 and has practiced in the United States,
Israel, and Ethiopia. Her areas of interest are pediatrics, role emerging
practice, developing nations, culturally responsive care, and transformational
learning. She currently owns and operates a pediatric outpatient and home care
clinic in the United States and is developing Ethiopia’s first occupational
therapy educational program in cooperation with an Ethiopian university, in
addition to staffing this program annually.
