| Summary: | Brenda talks about receiving a bursary from the Newfoundland government to get her diploma in Occupational Therapy from the University of Alberta; work at the Children's Rehabilitation Centre; small but equivalent to centres elsewhere; only 3 occupational therapists; encouraged to participate in continuing professional education and program development; travelling clinics across the province to see children in their homes and schools;vibrant and diverse workplace;moved to head of occupational therapy department at the General Hospital; moving to Health Sciences Centre as acute care hospital; old General becoming an adult rehabilitation and geriatric centre; large budget for 11 positions and new equipment to develop the occupational therapy service at both sites;challenging to recruit occupational therapists and to increase awareness of the role of occupational therapy; started small and demonstrated value by doing; Atlantic school of Occupational Therapy opened at Dalhousie in mid-80's; Brenda became the Provincial Fieldwork Education Coordinator;recruited Newfoundland students to enroll in OT school;developed fieldwork placements across the province;great support from employers and therapists; linking clinical and academic settings; promoting evidence-based approach to practice; increased recruitment; involvement in provincial and national professional organizations; involvement in Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Occupational Therapists, Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, Newfoundland and Labrador Occupational Therapy Board; importance of professional regulation; title protection; protection of public; occupational therapy a fulfilling career.
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