How were they connected to Occupational Therapy?

1. How were they connected to Occupational Therapy? Susan Tracey -Considered the “first occupational therapist.” -Became director of The Training School for Nurses at The Adams Nervine Asylum (Boston, MA)  Developed first systematic training course about meaningful occupation for nurses/staff to teach patients different activities. -Wrote first book on occupations Studies in Invalid Occupations – A Manuel for Nurses and Attendants. -Conducted first class in occupational training at Massachusetts General Hospital Training School for Nurses.

2. How were they connected to Occupational Therapy? Dr. William Dunton -Willard and Spackman’s 8th edition (1993) described Dunton as having “added specificity to core concepts of Occupational Therapy by analyzing activities in terms of their creativity, physical effort, social potential, and intellectual demands, and matching them with the categorized needs for patients.” -1918: Wrote textbook “Occupational Therapy: A Manuel for Nurses.” -1919: Worked to form society of Occupational Therapists called The National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy (Now known as American Occupational Therapy Association – AOTA).  Wrote Reconstruction Therapy. -1928: Wrote Prescribing Occupational Therapy. -Became editor for Archives of Occupational Therapy (Now known as Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation).

3. Profession Before Occupational Therapy? Susan Tracey -Was a nurse before becoming an occupational therapist. -While working as a nurse, noticed that engagement in meaningful occupations eased tension and made bed rest more tolerable for patients in the hospital. -Found that engagement in meaningful occupations could carry over into patient’s life after discharge from hospital, and so began promoting engagement in meaningful occupations.

4. Profession Before Occupational Therapy? Dr. William Dunton -Practicing psychiatrist after getting masters at Haverford College and doctorate from University of Pennsylvania Medical School. -Became a physician at John Hopkins University. -Became assistant physician at Sheppard Asylum where he worked with mentally ill and became intrigued by healing potential of meaningful occupational activities for his patients.