Academic Innovation: Fighting the Opioid Crisis
Kyle Oatis, MSOT ’18 is using his occupational therapy degree to help fight the opioid crisis.
When Kyle Oatis, MSOT ’18 chose to become an occupational therapist, he wasn’t thinking that his work would help impact the opioid crisis.
“Though we may not be considered to be on the front lines as health care practitioners in the opioid epidemic, occupational therapists play an immensely large role in helping serve the community when it comes to combating opioid addiction,” shares Oatis.
Many of Oatis’ patients try to avoid taking stronger prescription drugs for their hand and wrist, even if they are prescribed. Oatis provides an alternative, utilizing modalities, manual techniques, education on compensatory strategies, adaptive techniques, and graded activities to assist patients with pain reduction and help them return to the activities that are most meaningful to them such as shaving, making it through a yoga class, and playing the guitar.
Oatis credits Michael Roberts, OT, OTD, associate professor and director of the Regis master’s program in occupational therapy, for helping him discover his passion for occupational therapy.
“I will never forget Dr. Roberts’ emphasis throughout the program to always look at our clients holistically,” Oatis says. “Everyone is a sum of our perception, our environment, our character, our roles, our abilities, and our dreams, and all of these things directly play into our function. This helps me daily to remember to always make my work client-centered and meaningful for whomever I come in contact with.”
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