Occupational Therapy helps people do the everyday things that make life meaningful, from getting dressing and preparing meals to returning to work, driving and caring for family. 

On this episode of Living Healthy Together, we celebrate the impact occupational therapists have on lives across our region, and explore how this collaborative, relationship-focused approach to rehabilitation made a difference for three patients dealing with vastly different challenges. Together, these stories reveal how occupational therapy goes beyond rehabilitation, helping people reconnect to purpose, preserve dignity, and take control of their everyday lives. 

Vermonter Brian Stevens shares his journey of resilience and recovery with his occupational therapist, Janet Conk, MOT,  following a devastating motorcycle accident in 2025 that left him paralyzed. 

Greta Irwin, OTR-L, a multi-site manager on the Rehabilitation team at UVM Medical Center, explains the scope of occupational therapy, rising demand for services across our region, and the growing, unmet needs facing patients.  

Heidi Faunce, a pipefitter who suffered a traumatic hand injury, takes listeners behind the scenes of her rehabilitation with certified hand therapy specialist Krista Schestag, OT, CHT, and describes the specialized, relationship-driven care that helped her return to work and reclaim her ability to do everyday tasks. 

University of Vermont professor Sefakor GMA. Komabu-Pomeyie, PhD, shares her lifelong medical journey dealing with the impacts of Polio and how her work with driver rehabilitation specialist Heather Zuk, OT, helped her preserve independence through adaptive driving technology.