Michael Borgese

I became interested in this field after witnessing a home-based occupational therapist work with my grandmother following her hip replacement surgery. I was deeply impressed by the therapist's compassionate approach and the significant impact the treatment had, not only on her physical recovery but on her mental well-being as well. Observing this inspired me to further explore the field on my own, as I wanted to be the one to help an individual achieve their meaningful and personal goals, just as how the occupational therapist did with my grandma.

Both of my siblings attended SUNY schools, so I wanted to keep the tradition alive. When first visiting, I fell in love with how much Buffalo had to offer beyond the campus, such as how Canada is only a drive away, the lively downtown area, and, of course, the Bills culture.

I also found that UB aligned with my educational goals and aspirations. I knew I wanted to go to a college that offered an accelerated occupational therapy program, so I thought that UB would be the perfect fit for me.

My favorite course so far has been the orthotics and prosthetics lecture and lab, where I had the opportunity to measure and make different splints on a partner. I really enjoyed how hands-on this lab was and how interesting it was to mold and create different types of splints, while also being able to express my creativity by creating modifications to materials for an activity of my choosing.

Take a step back and do research about the field to see if it is the right fit for you. Take into consideration your ability to be patient with others, to be humble and understand that the client is the expert regarding their diagnosis and to have an innate drive to help and motivate others to become independent.

Also, get involved in your school or community as much as you can. This can be as small as joining a school club that centers around health professions, or just having a conversation with an occupational therapist to learn what a typical day is like. Another helpful experience would be volunteering with individuals that may need services at a school, hospital or rehabilitation center to see how OT is implemented within a specific setting. The more exposure you have to the field, the more it will help guide your decision on if this is the right fit for you. 

Finally, consider taking extracurricular or undergraduate courses that are relevant to OT to get an understanding of the domain and scope of the profession. Specifically, any anatomy, physiology, public health or psychology related courses.

While both professions strive to enhance a patient’s health, they vary in the end goal that each profession center their practice around. For example, while both physical and OT work on movement and improving mobility, it may be for different reasons. Physical therapy may do so in order to allow a patient to walk up their stairs to get into their home, while OT may do so to allow the patient to complete daily activities independently in their home. 

Furthermore, OT distinguishes itself by focusing on other aspects that play into one’s daily activities, such as cognitive, visual, social and mental factors. Occupational therapists may perform visual and cognitive assessments, work on social interaction skills, develop coping strategies, and address a majority of other internal or external factors that may impede one’s performance.

While both professions consider a patient’s physical abilities, OT centers its practice around independence, daily activities, and other factors affecting performance.