AOTA's Specialty Conference on Occupational Therapy’s Distinct Value in Oncology Across the Lifespan Co-Sponsored with the MD Anderson Department of Rehabilitation Services

On January 27th & 28th the first Specialty Conference on the Distinct Value of Occupational Therapy in Oncology Rehabilitation co-sponsored by AOTA and the MD Anderson Cancer Center Department of Rehabilitation Services was held at MD Anderson Cancer Center's Onstead Auditorium. 140 occupational therapy practitioners from 32 states were in attendance to network, learn and share on the distinct role of occupational therapy with adult cancer survivors. 

In addition to our Keynote presentation by Dr. Ki Shin titled "Cancer Rehabilitation, Our Experience at MD Anderson" we had 15 concurrent sessions presented by expert occupational therapy practitioners in oncology rehabilitation. Unfortunately because some of the sessions ran concurrently I could not be in all the rooms but I heard nothing but positive comments from the 140 attendees! Dr. Shin's keynote was inspiring and is a major advocate for occupational therapy. He serves as the Medical Director for the Department of Rehabilitation Services and I am proud to work with him to meet the needs of patients with cancer as Director of the Department of Rehabilitation.

Thanks to the following outstanding occupational therapy practitioners who gave high quality presentations:

• Elizabeth Hunter of the University of Kentucky: Cancer Rehabilitation and Occupational Therapy: Systematic Review Highlights and Opportunities
• Sheila Longpre of Nova Southeastern University & Jean MacLachlan of Salem State University: Working with Children in Oncology Care: An Occupational Therapy Approach
• Claudine Campbell of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: The Role of Occupational Therapy in Lymphedema Management
• Donna Kelly of MD Anderson Cancer Center: The Role of Occupational Therapy Across the Treatment Continuum for Adolescents with Cancer
• Vi Nguyen of MD Anderson Cancer Center: Early Mobilization for the Adult Oncology Patient.
• Meghan Doherty of Washington University & Tim Wolf of the University of Missouri: Performance-based Assessments of Cognition in Oncology
• Brent Braveman of MD Anderson Cancer Center: Building Oncology Rehabilitation Programs Across the Age-Span and Care Continuum
• Meghan Doherty & Debbie Turley both of Washington University: Cancer and Work
• Asfia Mohammed of MD Anderson Cancer Center: Sexuality and the Oncology Patient
• Tish Williams of MD Anderson Cancer Center & Francie Baker of Texas Woman's University: Supporting the Caregiver Role from Diagnosis through Survivorship 
• Jennifer Nicholson & Shelby Ulrich both of MD Anderson Cancer Center: Supporting Occupational Performance in the Setting of Pain and Peripheral Neuropathy
• Anissa Hill of MD Anderson Cancer Center: Cancer Related Fatigue
• Sheila Longpre & Kerri Easterling: Translating Research into Practice: Addressing the Roles, Habits & Routines of Cancer Survivors
• Brent Braveman of MD Anderson Cancer Center: Oncology Rehabilitation: Future Directions & Opportunities

The AOTA staff who collaborated with us to organize, support and run the conference were wonderful and special thanks are given to Frank Gainer, Debbie Whitaker Amini, Leslie Jones and Dianna Dikitanan as well as the Senior Administrative Assistant for MD Anderson's Department of Rehabilitation Services Ravonda Carr.

It was an honor to have President Amy Lamb onsite to meet attendees, participate in the discussions and to share perspectives from our professional association. 

We are beginning to make great strides in moving occupational therapy forward as key players in the rehabilitation of cancer survivors. The two presentations that I gave are attached.

​Thank you AOTA!

building_oncology_rehabilitation_programs_across_the_age-span_and_care_continuum_1-27-17.pdf
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oncology_rehabilitation-_future_directions___opportunities_.pdf
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