Kailah Happ
  • Waterford, Mich.

SVSU student Kailah Happ, of Waterford, joins occupational therapy fieldwork initiative in Ecuador

2015 May 29

Kailah Happ, of Waterford, was among 10 Saginaw Valley State University students to provide occupational therapy support to people in Ecuador.

The students -- all enrolled in SVSU's master of science in occupational therapy program -- visited a pediatric clinic, an adult day care center and a skilled nursing center during their stay. Crecer, a nonprofit organization that provides occupational therapy services in Ecuador, worked with SVSU's students.

They visited Ecuador from Saturday to Monday, May 2-11, as part of a fieldwork requirement for the occupational therapy program.

The students also were invited to speak to 80 psychology students and faculty at a university in Ecuador, the Universidad Tecnico del Norte. SVSU's group provided education about occupational therapy.

Julie Jacob, one of SVSU's fieldwork coordinators for the occupational therapy program, said the experience benefited both the students and the communities they visited.

"The experience allowed for our students to engage in occupational therapy treatment with clients from another culture, as well as to learn about the Ecuadorian healthcare system and how OT fits into their healthcare model," Jacob said.

The fieldwork initiative exemplifies the hands-on learning and community interaction that is part of SVSU's commitment to community engagement. In 2015, SVSU received the Community Engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, a distinction achieved by only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities. For more on SVSU's community engagement, visit svsu.edu/communityengagement/.