HPU DOCTOR OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY STUDENTS AND FACULTY BRING CARE AND CONNECTION TO ST. LUCIA

This spring, a group HPU Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) students and faculty members traveled to St. Lucia in the eastern Caribbean to share their knowledge while listening and learning alongside a community deeply committed to caring for children with developmental delays.

The service-learning experience brought the HPU team to two of the island’s keystone institutions for therapeutic education: the Dunnottar School, and the Child Development and Guidance Centre (CDGC), a registered non-profit whose mission is to provide education and early healthcare intervention for children with developmental delays.

Over the course of the week, HPU students immersed themselves in classrooms and community visits, working directly with teachers, staff, and families to support local efforts through hands-on training and therapeutic tools.

Led by HPU Assistant Professor Emerson Hart, Ph.D., OTR/L, BCP, and HPU Professor Patty Coker-Bolt, Ph.D., OTR/L, FNAP/FAOTA, the HPU OTD students offered workshops in feeding techniques, sensory processing, seating and positioning, and contracture management. The team also built and donated light boxes (devices that help children with low vision or cortical visual impairments develop visual skills) so that each classroom would have access to this essential support. The team also had the opportunity to learn firsthand the important therapy needs of adults and children with disabilities.

“Our students approached the experience with humility and compassion,” said Coker-Bolt. “They supported the teachers, children, and families from a culturally responsive lens. The experience broadened the OT students’ worldview of the importance of occupational therapy services and linked to our program's mission to develop globally responsive students.”

Hart shared similar sentiments on the experience in St. Lucia. "It was such a privilege to see our students put their OT knowledge and clinical skills to work in St. Lucia to serve the staff, teachers, and children,” she said. “While we went to serve and provide quality services, we all returned home receiving so much more than we gave!"

At every step, the focus remained on collaboration. Zanique Edwards, a St. Lucia partner and teacher at the Dunnottar School, said, “It was a pleasure seeing this team in action. The way they interacted with our staff and children provided insight into the knowledge and skills these therapists and therapy students were equipped with. Their care and willingness to train and assist us will make a difference in the lives of our children. We have much love and appreciation to this team.”

For students, the experience was just as moving.

“What made St. Lucia unforgettable wasn’t just the breathtaking landscapes, but the people who welcomed us into their lives,” said HPU OTD student Irene Nelson. “Every person we met opened the door to meaningful connection and reminded us of the power of shared occupations. It was so heartwarming to be able to help in some small way, using the knowledge we’ve gained from school and fieldwork. I came to give, but left having received so much more.”

HPU OTD student Susanne Wexler echoed the sentiment. “This trip wasn’t just about providing occupational therapy to individuals. It was about transforming lives in ways I never imagined. In their smiles and their grateful eyes, I saw the power of compassion. I went to St. Lucia to help, but I left changed forever.”

HPU’s OTD program is grounded in a philosophy of hands-on learning, global engagement, and human-centered care. To learn more about the program, its dedicated faculty, and its mission to create compassionate leaders in occupational therapy, click here.