01/21/2025
Check out one of our amazing current students, Charles!
Charles Hanks is a current 3rd year OTD student at the Kalamazoo campus. Read below to hear what he had to say about his Level II experience, and how his Level Is at WMU helped to prepare him.
1. What was your first level II experience? What setting and where was it located?
- My first Level II FW experience was at Mary Free Bed and consisted of adults, and some pediatrics patients, with Neuro and Ortho deficits. The setting was outpatient and was in Kalamazoo, MI.
2. What was something you learned at this rotation that was new to you?
- I learned many great lessons at MFB Outpatient. Something new I learned at MFB Outpatient that was new to me was the Lymphedema care and the prevalence it has for OTs in this setting. Providing Lymphedema care is a skillful craft and can be beneficial for OTs who provide this care at their clinic. To provide Lymphedema service you must be certified and after watching my supervisor care for patients, I believe it is well worth getting the certification.
3. How did your level Is set you up for success? What skills did you carry forward?
- I believe Level Is gave me the experience and confidence to meet with people in this setting. My first level I was in Unified clinics adult outpatient. So, it was a very similar experience to my first level II. Some skills I carried over from my level I were conducting screenings and assessments, the occupational profile, and a base knowledge of interventions to implement with this population. I believe the most important skill I took was building rapport with the clients. This was the most impact skill in my opinion, because once rapport was built, everything felt natural and easy.
4. If you had to give anyone considering applying to, or is currently in WMUs OTD/OTA program one piece of advice after having your first level II under your belt, what would it be?
- One piece of advice I would give a current or new OTD/OTA student is, trust yourself. If you are in this profession, then you know, you are in it for the people you will serve. One important lesson I am learning is that when I make the client the priority and build rapport with them, my ex*****on of skills happens naturally. I typically don’t have to worry. I trust my abilities more when I get to know the client and provide an environment that is safe and comforting to them. It’s interesting. When I focus on myself and frantically try to remember a certain assessment or intervention my sessions aren’t as smooth or natural. So, trust in the hard work, studying, and preparation you have done thus far. You already know the information. I believe, once you focus on the client and make them comfortable, OT naturally flows from you.
We are so proud of all that Charles has accomplished during fieldwork! As he continues in his last semester of the program to work on his capstone project, we look forward to witnessing all of the amazing things he and our other OT students are doing. Way to make us OTPROUD, Charles!