Introduction / Rationale: According to the US Department of Labor's (2019; 2025), the need for occupational therapists (OT) will continue to increase as the large baby-boomer population ages and people with disabilities seek to find ways to perform their daily activities in later life. In addition, OT’s collaborative approach to the provision of health care and focus on increasing client independence make occupational therapy practitioners a valuable part of beneficiaries’ primary care team particularly in critical areas such as premature infants/NICU, mental health (e.g., schizophrenia), and upper extremity disorders. Yet, there is a national OT workforce gap of underrepresented minorities practicing in primary care and medically underserved communities.
Objectives: Become familiar with a model that promotes diversity in the OT workforce and the increases the number of graduates practicing in medically underserved communities and primary care settings.
Methods /Approach: This project utilizes a model that is designed to help fill the nation’s “workforce gap” of aspiring practitioners from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to practicing in primary care and giving back to underserved communities.
Results / Practice Implications: Findings indicate that students from disadvantaged backgrounds have a high rate of giving back to underserved communities and that early exposure to primary care increases the likelihood of students practicing in these areas once they graduate.
Conclusion / Contribution to the occupational therapy profession: Addressing areas of disparities and increasing diversity in in the OT workforce leads to better patient outcomes and improves health care delivery that benefits both the patient; OT practitioner and promotes a healthier society.