Annemarie Orr

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Every occupational therapy practitioner mentioned in today's presentations played a vital role in progressing the profession to where it is today.  The occupational therapist that I believe has impacted the promotion of the profession most today was Annemarie Orr.  Annemarie is an occupational therapist that works at Walter Reed Medical Center, and she was the keynote speaker at the AOTA's annual conference in 2016.  While Annemarie has worked with and helped many clients, she is most known for working with Patrick Downes and Jessica Kensky after they needed their left legs amputated after the Boston Marathon bombing.  Annemarie worked with this couple to help them adapt to their amputations, and she taught them how to use adaptive equipment to achieve their goals and dreams as well as accomplish their activities of daily living. 

While Annemarie did not do anything out of the ordinary, her work with Patrick and Jessica is just one example of the amazing work occupational therapist do daily.  I often have people ask me what occupational therapy is, and I wish there were more stories in the news and media about how occupational therapists have helped someone like Annemarie has.  Annemarie's work with Patrick and Jessica has promoted awareness to the field of occupational therapy, and it is my desire that more occupational therapy stories like this can be brought into the public eye. 

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