Occupational Therapy Mentoring Program

About the Program

Created in March 2016, the Occupational Therapy (OT) Mentoring Program is designed to facilitate the students’ connection to the profession. Evidence has shown that in addition to formal education, mentors and role models are key to the development of a professional identity. The School of Physical & Occupational Therapy’s (SPOT) identity is defined by the people within its community.

Looking at SPOT as a community of practice, mentoring fits into this perspective as it also allows for colleagues to move from a point of peripheral engagement to full engagement in that community of practice (e.g., developing a sense of belonging and commitment). Mentoring also allows individuals within the SPOT community to learn and understand the implicit and explicit values, beliefs, and ways of doing and being. 

Program objectives:

• Foster the development of the students’ professional identity
• Develop the students’ skills for reflection
• Develop the students’ sense of OT practice through clinical examples or lived experiences 

Starting in the first year of studies (U1), students are partnered with an OT mentor, a clinician from a particular practice area. Each OT Mentor meets with their students in groups, for two, 3-hour sessions in the academic year and then follows the students throughout the entire program.

Various topics are brought up in the mentoring sessions such as, skills and attributes needed for practice, transition from student to student therapist and preparedness for the workforce.

Occupational Therapy Mentors

How to Become a Mentor?

An annual call for applications is put out each spring.

If you are interested in being part of this great group of mentors, please contact Susanne Mak at susanne.mak [at] mcgill.ca.