April is OT Awareness Month

I recently presented a lecture, 'Introduction to OT', for the staff in the Geriatrics and Gerontology Department at Ain Shams University Hospital, Abbasyia.

I was invited by Dr. Ahmed Shawky Mohammedin. He heard about OT while attending a conference in Malta and he was interested in sharing this knowledge with his colleagues. He felt his patients in the geriatric department could definitely benefit from OT services.

The presentation was an overview of OT (i.e. educational background of OT's, where OT's work, who OT's work with, and what is involved in an OT assessment and treatment). Various examples of how OT can benefit geriatric cases were also discussed.

(left to right) Dr. Youmna Al-Gazzar, Resident of Geriatric Medicine inpatient department, Dr Rania Abou-Hashem, Lecturer of Geriatric Medicine, Geriatrics and Gerontology department, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine, Laura Efinger, OT/L, Dr. Sara Hamza, Assistant Professor of Geriatrics Gerontology, Head of Geriatrics and Gerontology department, Ain Shams University Hospital, Dr. Hany Ibrahim, Resident of Geriatric Medicine, Geriatrics Intensive Care Unit, and Dr Ahmed Shawky Mohammedin, Assistant Lecturer of Geriatrics and Gerontology department, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine.

(left to right) Dr. Doha Rashidy, Assistant Lecturer of Geriatric Medicine, Geriatrics and Gerontology dpt, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Rania Abou-Hashem, Lecturer of Geriatric Medicine, Geriatrics and Gerontology dpt, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Ghada Farag, Assistant Lecturer of Geriatric Medicine, Geriatrics and Gerontology dpt, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine, Laura Efinger, OT/L, Dr. Sara Hamza, Assistant Professor of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Head of Geriatrics and Gerontology department, Ain Shams University Hospital, Dr. Hany Ibrahim, Resident of Geriatric Medicine, Geriatrics Intensive Care Unit, and Dr. Ahmed Shawky Mohammedin, Assistant Lecturer of Geriatrics and Gerontology dpt, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine.

The department would be eager to have occupational therapists assisting with their clients. If anyone is interested in volunteering, they can contact Dr. Sarah A. Hamza, Head of Geriatrics and Gerontology department: hasarah_2000@yahoo.com.

Perhaps you are an OT looking to gain some work experience, wanting to help others less fortunate than yourself or simply wanting to spend some time experiencing a new culture then perhaps volunteering in the inpatient department is the project for you!

Recent OT graduates and students on mid-year or summer breaks are welcome to spend some time volunteering in the inpatient department, as well! 

Laura