MAOT Advocacy SIG

Date and Time: Wednesday, January 15^th, 7-8pm  

Chairperson(s): Mary O’Donnell, Sarah McKinnon & Haley Matuszek 

Location:  Zoom - to be sent out day before the event

Speaker(s): Mary O’Donnell & Sarah McKinnon

Guest Speaker: Heather Parsons, MS, OT, serves as the Vice President of Federal Affairs at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

In this role, she leads AOTA's advocacy efforts, focusing on policy initiatives that advance the occupational therapy profession at the federal level.

Title: Advocacy in Action Following 2024 Federal Elections: Empowering Change through Occupational Therapy 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Understand the role of occupational therapists in advocacy at local, state and national levels and identify key issues affecting the profession 
2. Develop strategies to effectively communicate the value of occupational therapy to policymakers, stakeholders, and the community. 
3. Engage in steps to promote the profession, such as drafting letters or creating social media campaigns 

Bio/Focus:

Sarah McKinnon OT, OTD, OTR, BCPR, MPA, FAOTA, FNAP is an occupational therapist and is the interim chair of the OT department the MGH Institute of Health Professions.  She is also the Program Director for the Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program and Doctor of Health Sciences program at the Institute. She received her AOTA Fellow distinction for her work in interprofessional advocacy, service and education and Fellow from the National Academies of Practice in 2022.  She resides in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Sarah recently served on the Board of Directors for the American Occupational Therapy Association Political Action Committee (AOTPAC) from 2015-2020 and led government relations for the Massachusetts Association for Occupational Therapy (MAOT). She currently services as the Chair-Elect of the OT Academy of the National Academies of Practice. She is also the interim chair of the occupational therapy department at the MGH Institute of Health Professions.

Mary O’Donnell, OT, OTD, OTR, CLC is an occupational therapist and Assistant Professor in the OT Department at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. She currently serves as Co-Government Relations Representative of the Massachusetts Association for Occupational Therapy (MAOT). Her clinical and professional interests include pediatrics, adaptive sports and policy/advocacy. 

References:

1.  Karr, K. (2024). Finalized 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Impact on OT. American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). https://www.aota.org/advocacy/advocacy-news/2024/finalized-2025-medicare-physician-fee-schedule-impact-on-ot 

2. Dhillon, S., Wilkins, S., Stewart, D. & Law, M. (2016). Understanding advocacy in action: A qualitative study. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79(6): 345-352. DOI: 10.1177/0308022615583305 

3. Bonsall, A., Wolf, R.L., & Saffer, A. (2023). Experiential education in advocacy for occupational therapy students: Didactic approaches and learning outcomes. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2023.070207 

This event will be closed the day before the event. Please register by 4:00 p.m. on January 14, 2024.