Introduction / Rationale: Filipino Occupational Therapists transitioning as practitioners in the USA need to be fully aware and informed of the whole process. There needs to be more knowledge of the processes and competencies needed for practitioners in the USA.
Objectives:
-To describe a mentor and mentee partnership among Filipino occupational therapy practitioners in the USA.
-To present a narrative of the successful elements of a mentorship program for Filipino OT transitioning to practice in the USA.
Methods / Approach: A qualitative inquiry using focus group discussion among Filipino OT practitioners in the USA.
Results / Practice Implications: Three main themes were derived from the analysis of qualitative data, namely, the experience-driven definition and construct of mentorship, the impact of culture in mentorship, and uncovering the truths of transitioning to practice as OT in the USA.
Conclusion / Contribution to the occupational therapy profession: The study provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by Filipino OTs during the process of practice transition to the USA. A structured and culture-based mentorship could maximize successful practice transition among Filipino OT practitioners.