An awareness presentation about occupational therapy from various professional's perspectives on world OT day in October 2019

1. Celebrating
World Occupational Therapy Day
27th October, 2019 Sunday

2. The healthcare profession of Occupational Therapy (OT) came to existence in India, by
establishment of the first Occupational Therapy School in Asia, at Seth Gordhandas
Sunderdas Medical College & King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai,
Maharashtra, founded by an American lady Mrs. Kamala Vishnu Nimbkar (nee Elizabeth
Lundy) in the year 1950.

4. Occupational Therapy Day was first launched on 27th October, 2010. Since
then, it has been an important date in the occupational therapy calendar, to
promote and celebrate the profession internationally. It is celebrated
throughout India during the All India Occupational Therapists’
Association’s (AIOTA) OTIndia month i.e. 27th October to 26th November.

6. “My best wishes to you on the World OT Day. You are a valued, much
necessary and indispensable team member!”
~ Dr. Ashok N. Johari
Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

7. ~ Prof. Dr. Nareshkumar S. Dhaniwala
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Nanded, Maharashtra, India

8. “When bones are fragile
Therapists make them mobile
Though doctors mend the joints
Therapists are the ones who bend the joints!
Best wishes on the World Occupational Therapy Day”
~ Dr. Binoti Arun Sheth
Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

9. “I can safely say, that no treatment can be complete without the inputs of
an occupational rehabilitation specialist - who helps maximize the output of
the physical recovery, and truly gets the patient back on track . The role of
Occupational rehabilitation therapists seems under rated, but make no
mistake - they form the most important link in Orthopedic rehabilitation!”
~ Dr. Abhay Nene
Spine Orthopaedic Surgeon
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

10. “Wish you all the best for the upcoming World Occupational Therapy Day. Having studied at KEM, Mumbai
offered the first opportunity and awareness that there existed a subject called Occupational Therapy, apart from
Physiotherapy, thought the differences were not apparent to me then. However, once my Orthopaedic residency
started I could gradually appreciate the role of both type of therapist in the rehabilitation process which was part
and parcel of the treatment of most orthopaedic conditions. The importance of the therapist as an integral part of
the treating team was further strengthened during my Upper limb fellowship days at Wrightington Hospital, UK,
where I found that results of even the simplest of surgeries were vastly influenced by the hand therapy team.
Today, I am fortunate to have the great rehab team in the hospital I work, which includes a couple of
Occupational Therapists apart from a posse of Physiotherapists. Their hard work and team effort eventually
translates to a happy patient, ready to return to daily life without significant disability and the confidence to get
back to their life. Wishing you and the entire family of therapists a very happy Diwali as well.”
~ Dr. Anirban Chatterjee
Paediatric & Hand Orthopaedic Surgeon
Kolkata, West Bengal, India

11. “We do orthopaedic surgeries, when after surgeries, patient is not able to use particular body part due
to pain, or sometimes limb is protected in cast or brace (immobilization) for fracture or ligament
healing. When limbs, spinal muscles are not used for these reasons they go into disuse atrophy or
wasting, joints loose their flexibility and become stiff. To attain maximum functionality of limb or
any body part it is crucial to regain maximum ligament flexibility, pliability of joint, strength of
muscles. It is possible with well supervised occupation therapy. It is not possible to evaluate, each
patient in such a detailed manner in post-operative state. An occupational therapist in the team who
understands and trained in detailed evaluation is helpful in giving regular feedback about the
functional improvement of the patient. In cases where the improvement is suddenly plateaued or not
progressing as per the expectation, is noted by therapist and reported to the orthopaedic surgeon. It
helps in better outcome of the individual patients.”
~ Dr. Shailesh K. Mishra
Joint and Arthroscopy Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

12. “Upper limb surgery and rehab is multidisciplinary. Occupational therapist
play a vital role in helping the overall recovery and return to productive life.
They contribute majorly in deformity correction and prevention, as well as
functional rehabilitation.”
~ Dr. Mukund R. Thatte
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

13. “Wish all a happy diwali. On the auspicious day of lights, I wish all
Occupational Therapists on occasion of the World Occupational Therapy
Day, a prosperous professional life for the needy patients. My four decade
experience, feedbacks - the team cannot perform without an Occupational
therapist in Ortho, Plastic, Neuro, Cardio etc.”
~ Prof. Dr. Arun Kumar Choudhury.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Odisha, India

14. “If you light a lamp for someone else, it will also brighten your path. May
we always be the reason for someone’s happiness. Best wishes on World
Occupational Therapy Day and AIOTA’s OTIndia month 2019.”
~ Dr. Anil K. Srivastava
President, the All India Occupational Therapists’ Association
Executive Chairman, the Academic Council of Occupational Therapy
Editor-in-Chief, the Indian Journal of Occupational Therapy
WFOT Delegate
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

15. “About more than 80% of prehensile activities are performed through upper
extremity and it represents largest area in brain. Occupational therapist is
most important member of Rehab team. Occupational therapy (OT) approach
is creative and functional, due to this OT converts liabilities into assets for
patients’ functional and productive life, and at large family and country. I
love my OT profession.”
~ Prof. Dr. Raj Kumar Sharma
Dean, Paramedical and Allied Health Sciences, Santosh Group of Institutions,
Principal of Santosh Occupational Therapy College, Ghaziabad, India

16. “Occupational Therapy helps with restoring physical functioning or
compensate for permanent disability, to enable independence with all aspects
of life activities, as desired and/or expected.”
~ Dr. Joseph K. Wells
CEO, The S.A.I. Group
USA

17. “Occupational Therapists help people to get back to their occupation (activities of daily
living, work and productive activities, play and leisure activities, spiritual and cultural
activities) and occupational roles of life, after their illnesses/injuries/disorders, by
meaningful and purposeful therapy sessions. Occupational Therapists help people, view
their injuries as a challenge to overcome, by positive and proactive strategies, for timely,
faster and early return to life tasks. We educate patients to take responsibilities of their
health as a wealth!”
~ Punita V. Solanki
Visiting Consultant Occupational Therapist
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India