Abstract
A monograph on the international OT response to the COVID-19 pandemic from the Global Occupational Therapy Think Tank (GOTTT).
Primary Author and Speaker: Kinsuk Maitra
Additional Authors and Speakers: Judith A. Parker Kent, Franklin Stein, George Tomlin, Kristine Haertl, Janet Njelesani
Occupational therapy (OT) is among the world’s fastest-growing healthcare fields, boasting 633,000 professionals across 100+ countries (World Federation of Occupational Therapy). OTs now play crucial roles in healthcare, spanning prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation in diverse settings. Social factors like poverty, trauma, and discrimination increasingly impact health and quality of life, broadening OT’s global role. Challenges such as refugee crises, war, and domestic violence further evolve healthcare delivery. In response, the Global Occupational Therapy Think Tank (GOTTT) emerged in 2021 to foster international collaboration. Comprising experts from every continent, GOTTT focuses on advancing OT globally and addressing critical health issues like AI, equitable access to resources, disasters, and climate change. Their mission aims to elevate OT’s profile, influence public perception, and secure more support and resources. GOTTT’s inaugural project synthesized global OT responses to COVID-19, offering insights from medical research, case studies, and international practices. Their forthcoming workshop will delve into this effort, exploring GOTTT’s formation, COVID-19 findings, and OT’s role in current global challenges. It promises to inspire reflection among practitioners, shaping OT’s future impact worldwide.
Almhdawi, K., Andresen, M., Chishtie, F., Costa, U., Cezar da Cruz, D., Gätz, N., Haertl, K., lkiugu, M., Parker Kent, J., Maitra, K., Medina, M., Njelesani, J., Robnett, R., Stein, F., Tatzer, V. C., Tomlin, G., Vandemaele, S., & Yu, C.-H. (2023). International response of Occupational Therapy to the COVID-19 pandemic: A report from the Global Occupational Therapy Think Tank (GOTTT). Georgia State University. https://doi.org/10.57709/EX2Q-WE05
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