Occupation Station | Episode 1: In the Trenches — OT School & Pediatric Fieldwork

Welcome to Episode 1 of Occupation Station — Broadcasting from the 956. In this episode, Christian and Mike talk about what it feels like to be “in the trenches” of OT school while navigating Pediatric Level I Fieldwork. From midterms, milestones, and trying to stay on top of school to seeing new interventions and clinical reasoning in real-world settings, we reflect on what we are learning both inside and outside of the classroom. We discuss experiences from pediatric outpatient and school-based fieldwork, including seeing a spider cage in action, developing intervention ideas, finding the “just-right challenge,” and learning how much creativity goes into occupational therapy. We also talk about stress, routines, burnout, occupational balance, leadership, and why making mistakes is part of becoming a better future clinician. Occupation Station is a student-led podcast created to document our experiences throughout occupational therapy school and serve as a time capsule of our growth as future occupational therapy practitioners. HOSTS Christian Mike DISCLAIMER This podcast is intended for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. The views, opinions, experiences, and statements expressed in this podcast are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of any university, academic program, employer, fieldwork site, healthcare organization, clinical facility, or professional association with which the speakers may be affiliated. Nothing discussed in this podcast should be interpreted as medical, occupational therapy, healthcare, legal, or other professional advice. Information presented is based on the speakers’ personal experiences and perspectives as students and/or practitioners and should not be used as a substitute for evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or guidance from an appropriately qualified professional. Any discussion of clients, patients, fieldwork experiences, or clinical situations is presented solely for educational discussion. Identifying information has been omitted, generalized, or modified with the intent of protecting individual privacy and confidentiality. Any similarities to identifiable individuals beyond the experiences being discussed are unintended. The discussion of specific interventions, assessments, diagnoses, techniques, products, technologies, or practice approaches does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Clinical decisions should be based on each individual’s circumstances, applicable professional standards, institutional policies, current evidence, and appropriate professional judgment. Occupation Station is an independent student-created podcast and is not an official publication, program, or communication of UTRGV or any other educational institution, employer, fieldwork site, or professional organization unless explicitly stated otherwise. All trademarks, product names, organization names, and other intellectual property referenced belong to their respective owners. Their mention is for identification, commentary, or educational discussion and does not imply sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliation. Music and other third-party media are used pursuant to their respective licenses or permissions. All rights remain with their respective copyright holders. #OccupationStation #OccupationalTherapy #OTSchool #OTDStudent #Fieldwork #PediatricOT #occupationaltherapystudent