We are recognizing and celebrating the achievements of our Black therapists. Our Rehab Director at Bibb Medical Center, Martha Dennis, OTR/L partnered with us to discuss her career in Occupational Therapy.

How did you choose a career in Occupational Therapy? What or who inspired you? What was your educational path?

 I kind of found OT by accident. I always thought I was going to become a teacher and was tailoring myself around that with internships and summer programs. Then in sophomore year in high school Tuskegee University O.T. students came to a STEM summer program I was in and opened my mind to OT and what it was. After listening to them I decided I wanted investigate it further. Instead of my normal STEM programs my Junior and Senior year, I went through the Tuskegee V.A. for a medical related internships and got hooked. I felt like the OT I shadowed was a teacher, but on a different scale and I wanted to be able to be a change agent in that way. I attended the University of South Alabama and graduated with honors with my B.S in Pre-Professional Health Science with a Concentration in Management and then attended the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and got my MOT. I graduated in May of 2018, passed by board in June of 2018, and started with Restore in July of the same year.

How long have you been with Restore?

 I have been with Restore since July  of 2018. Starting at Hunter Creek Health and Rehab and Park Manor Health and Rehab and I am currently Rehab Director at Bibb Medical Center for their Longterm and Swingbed Unit and back up for their Specialty Clinic/Outpatient Therapy Services.

What are your personal achievements in OT at Restore? Have you received any awards from a national agency?

 I hold certifications in Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care for patients with Dementia and am a Neuro-IFRAH certified therapist trained directly under creator Waleed Al-Oboudi in California for treatment and management of adults with stroke or brain injury.

It is my belief that the best ways for OTs to diversify the field of OT is to actively advocate and search ways to share information about the field. A lot of people who go into the medical field think nurses and doctors and therapy is little known. But advocacy and supporting HBCUs, COTAD (Coalition of Occupational Therapist Advocates for Diversity) chapters, BOTC (Black Occupational Therapy Caucas) chapters, youth programs, and representation through initiatives like this make a difference.

In 2021, only 5% of OTs were Black or African American in the US. What are some of the ways career established Black OTs can make space for those following in their footsteps?

It is my belief that the best ways for OTs to diversify the field of OT is to actively advocate and search ways to share information about the field. The way I try to share information about OT is through volunteerism. I am Cheer Coach and Cheer Coordinator for Brookwood Youth Cheer and Football Program and organizer for Little Miss Brookwood Beauty Walk and I take a special interest and shine to working with youth with disabilities both cheering on the sidelines and participating in pageants. Leaning on my knowledge in OT and physical disability I open the world for young ladies with disabilities and typically developing youth to the world to therapy and independence through occupations.

What can be done to support and encourage more Black students to pursue the medical profession?

My 2018 cohort at UTHSC closely resembled the field OT with 32 students/2 African American females/and 1 African American male. The best way to support a change in this ratio is through representation. I believe seeing more OT’s who look like them have a great impact on diversifying the field. A lot of people who go into the medical field think nurses and doctors and therapy is little known. But advocacy and supporting HBCUs, COTAD (Coalition of Occupational Therapist Advocates for Diversity) chapters, BOTC (Black Occupational Therapy Caucas) chapters, youth programs, and representation through initiatives like this make a difference.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience as an OT?

As an occupational therapist I think Restore is a great company to join. The productivity expectations are manageable, the autonomy of choice in treatment times, ability to travel between facilities to keep it fresh, and opportunity for flexing is a perk. This makes for awesome work/life balance where I can be a good OT/Rehab director changing my patients lives when I treat, working alongside my therapists and growing their skills as their director, but also gives me time to volunteer and be a good mother and wife.