Launch of the Occupational Therapy Degree at EU Gimbernat

This week, I had the pleasure of presenting the conference “Occupational Therapy: A Holistic Perspective on Participation” at the Paraninfo Santander.

I was very excited to learn that the Occupational Therapy (OT) degree will soon be launched in Cantabria and, at the same time, to be able to contribute in a small way to the beginning of this project through a conference about what Occupational Therapy is and the impact it has on people’s lives.

We still encounter many people who are unfamiliar with Occupational Therapy, partly because the profession continues to have limited representation within the healthcare sector. However, this does not make it any less necessary. During the conference, I had the opportunity not only to explain but also to encourage reflection on why occupations are so important in our lives: they are part of our roles and identities, they help us feel that we belong, and they allow us to actively participate in society — something we all need.

Alongside the conference, a round table discussion was also held, where several occupational therapists shared our experiences across different areas of the profession and answered questions from the audience.

The event was opened by the mayor, Gema Igual Ortiz, showing institutional support for Occupational Therapy from the municipal sector.

The entire event was moderated by Edu Pesquera in a warm, professional, and engaging way.

Both the universities and the healthcare sector were represented by different professionals who shared their view of Occupational Therapy as a fundamental part of socio-healthcare support, as well as the importance of having this training available within the local community.

Thanks to EU Gimbernat for the effort involved in developing this degree and managing all the necessary processes to continue expanding and strengthening this sector within our community. Without a doubt, this represents an important step towards more comprehensive socio-healthcare support.

I would also like to thank them for inviting me to share my perspective on Occupational Therapy, especially Isabel Díaz Ceballos and Yolanda Pedrero Martín.

May this be the beginning of a path that opens many more opportunities ahead.