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8th Annual ILOTA Student Conclave
Schedule
Saturday, February 15th
7:30 am - 8:00 am
Registration - Continental Breakfast Available
8:00 am - 9:15 am
"NBCOT® National Certification Exam: Information You Need to Know"
Presenters: Catherine Killian, OTD, MEd, OTR/L, NBCOT Ambassador for Illinois; and, a Panel of New Practitioners: Olivia Rotelle, Caitlyn Silhavy, Mallory ("Mal") Fredricks, Shreena Shah, and Amy Markland
Description: Join us for an exclusive opportunity to engage with a panel of recent exam takers who have conquered the path you're going to embark on. Gain invaluable insights into the best approaches for achieving your certification goal in Occupational Therapy.
Unlock a wealth of knowledge as we delve into specific topics, including insider details about the exam, essential study tool resources, and crucial test day information. This presentation is your gateway to being well-informed about every facet of the national certification exam.
Don't miss out on this unique chance to connect, learn, and elevate your preparation to new heights. Your certification success story begins here.
9:25 am - 10:40 am
Keynote Presentation:
"Empower, Innovate, Elevate: How Today’s OT Students Will Innovate Tomorrow’s World"
Presenter: Briana Bonner, OTD, OTR/L
This keynote will inspire students to discover how they can embrace innovation, lead with purpose, and elevate the occupational therapy profession in diverse and emerging roles. By sharing strategies and stories from global practice, this session will empower students to define their unique impact and push boundaries to shape a future that’s inclusive, forward-thinking, and transformational.
10:40 am - 11:25 am
"How to Market your Experience on the Job Hunt"
Presenter: Ryan Cleaveland, CEO, Spotter Staffing
Description: Join us for an engaging workshop where the CEO of Spotter Staffing will unveil the secrets to effectively market yourself as a fresh OT/OTA graduate. Learn how to showcase your unique experiences and strengths, empowering you to stand out and thrive in the competitive job search landscape.
11:25 am - 11:45 pm
"Does Frank Get the Job?"
Presenters: Interviewee: Frank Czuba, DrOT, OTR/L; Interviewer: Ryan Cleaveland, CEO, Spotter Staffing
Description: Step into the world of occupational therapy success with our exclusive session, where two seasoned experts will conduct a compelling mock interview tailored specifically for aspiring OT and OTA professionals. This immersive experience is designed to provide students with invaluable insights into the art of interviewing for coveted occupational therapy positions. Join us for a session that offers practical skills that will empower you to shine in any interview scenario.
11:45 am - 12:00 pm
Visit sponsors, network with presenters and other attendees.
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm - 1:50 pm
Optional Breakout Sessions:
Breakout 1
"Introduction to Generative AI Tools for OT Students & Beyond: Ethical Use Case Examples for Schoolwork, Daily Documentation, & Evidence-Based Practice"
Presenter:
Pooja A. Patel, DrOT, OTR/L, BCG, CDP, CFPS, CGCP
Founder & Podcast Host, Aging Together
Occupational Therapist, Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Adjunct Professor, multiple universities
Description:
Are you an occupational therapy student utilizing generative AI tools for schoolwork? Or perhaps you’re interested in how you can use such platforms effectively and ethically? Join me for an introductory and interactive course on generative AI tools!
This introductory course will explore the use of generative AI tools (specifically ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude) to enhance schoolwork, daily documentation, and evidence-based practice for occupational therapy students and beyond. Participants will learn how to access each platform, effectively communicate with them, and ethically incorporate their output into daily school- and work-related activities. Through hands-on demonstrations and case studies, attendees will gain practical skills to optimize their workflow and ultimately deliver high-quality, data-driven occupational therapy services.
Breakout 2
"Practical Supported Communication Techniques for Occupational Therapy Students"
Presenter:
Tertia “Abby” Jeppson, M.A., CCC-SLP, CBIS
Do you ever struggle to communicate with patients/clients who have speech, language, hearing, voice, or other communication impairments? In this presentation, you will learn evidence-based communication principles and strategies to adapt to a variety of patient communication needs and improve the effectiveness of your clinical interactions. A certified and experienced communication support trainer will offer video examples and hands-on practice. Take these skills into your everyday practice!
2:00 pm - 2:50 pm
Optional Breakout Sessions:
Breakout 3
"Expanding Horizons: Occupational Therapy’s Role in UX Design"
Presenter:
Francisco Lasta, OTR/L
Description:
Explore occupational therapy's role in user experience (UX) design and its intersection with architecture. Drawing from his experience working at an architecture firm, Francisco Lasta will highlight how OT principles can be applied in emerging and innovative practice settings to enhance human-centered design and accessibility.
Breakout 4
"Turbocharging your skills: Exploring Clinical Growth Opportunities within AOTA Fellowships"
Presenters: Kelsey Watters, CScD, OTR/L, BCPR, CBIS; Mallory ("Mal") Fredricks, OTD, OTR/L; Shea Schmittdiel
Description:
Navigating professional development and training opportunities after graduation can be daunting. But fear not! Join us for this breakout session to hear about how AOTA Fellowship programs can support your ongoing learning and turbocharge your professional development. The presenters will share about their experiences as a fellow and offer any tips or tricks to making the fellowship experience a success. Come discover what the AOTA fellowships can do for you!
3:00 pm - 3:50 pm
Optional Breakout Sessions:
Breakout 5
"Fieldwork Mastery: Insights and Advice from OT Practitioners and Students"
Presenters:
Beverly Menninger, MA, OTR/L
Phyllis Hughes, DrOT, OTR/L
Sabrine Saleh
Description:
Join us for a breakout session where a stellar lineup of occupational therapy practitioners and students spill the beans on the transformative fieldwork experience. Discover student expectations, untapped opportunities for personal and professional growth, and receive golden nuggets of advice to conquer your fieldwork rotation triumphantly. Don't miss this chance to unlock the keys to a thriving journey in occupational therapy!
Breakout 6
"From OT to CEO"
Presenter:
Sarah Zera, OTD, OTR/L
Description:
This presentation will highlight one occupational therapist’s journey from staff OT to entrepreneur. Participants will have the opportunity to brainstorm their own ideas for entrepreneurship, begin developing their mission and vision statements, and learn tangible resources to support entrepreneurship.
4:00 pm
Closing Remarks
All student registrants who attend the Closing Remarks will be included in a drawing for THREE free ILOTA memberships!
Additional Activities and Services
Resume Reviews: The deadline to sign up is February 9th. We will have multiple industry recruiters, hiring managers, and experienced practitioners available to provide you with feedback and advice on your resume. Resume reviews are available between 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, by appointment only, and will run concurrently with other scheduled events. If you sign up for this option during the online registration process prior to the February 9th deadline, we will assign everyone a specific time slot and notify you beginning on Monday, February 10th.
Professional Headshot Photos: We will have a photographer available from 10:30 am until 1:00 pm during the Student Conclave to take professional headshot photos of student registrants. This opportunity is free, included in your registration fee, and a photo will be available to the student soon after the event to download and use for job applications and interviews, etc. No sign-up necessary.
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