This Occupational Therapy (OT) Month, we’re celebrating the occupational therapists at IWK Health who help children and youth build the skills, confidence and independence they need to participate in everyday life. From supporting development to helping children navigate challenges at home, at school and in their communities, our OTs make a meaningful difference for patients and families every day. Thank you for all you do!
For Scott Thieu, occupational therapy has always been about helping people grow. Now, in a new leadership role, he is applying that same approach in a different way.
Scott is an occupational therapist and recently accepted the position of Clinical Leader for Tertiary Ambulatory Rehabilitation Services. After years of working directly with children and youth, his focus is shifting toward supporting rehabilitation teams and helping improve the quality and continuity of care for the families they serve.
“In simple terms, I would say OTs help people do the activities they want and need to do,” Scott says.
Sometimes that means relearning an activity, finding a new way to do something or using adaptive equipment and environmental modifications to achieve a goal. The approach, he says, always depends on the person and their circumstances.
In his new role, Scott is taking that same flexible, problem-solving approach to working with teams. The Clinical Leader position is new to Rehabilitation Services, giving him an opportunity to help shape how the role evolves and how he works with different teams across the portfolio.
Collaboration is central to his vision. With rehabilitation services supporting children and youth through different stages of development and transition, Scott hopes to strengthen connections between teams and help families experience greater continuity of care.