Mentor/s
Professor Gail Samdperil
Participation Type
Poster
Abstract
Strong leadership is fundamental to enhancing the effectiveness and growth of occupational therapy (OT) practice. This literature review examines how different leadership styles influence OT education, clinical management, and the profession’s capacity to adapt to changing healthcare demands. Effective leadership not only shapes workplace culture but also directly impacts patient outcomes and professional satisfaction. Studies show that transformational leadership has a positive correlation with improved leadership outcomes, promoting collaboration, motivation, and innovation within OT environments. In contrast, transactional leadership, apart from its contingent reward aspect, often negatively impacts leadership effectiveness. As healthcare continues to evolve, fostering strong leadership skills among OT professionals becomes crucial to navigating challenges and driving meaningful change. Therefore, reviewing these leadership skills will ensure the right practice is being sustained so aspiring occupational therapists like myself can thrive in their careers. By analyzing the role of leadership in OT education and clinical practice, this independent research emphasizes the importance of intentional leadership development to sustain and advance the profession in an increasingly complex healthcare landscape.
College and Major available
College of Health Professions, Occupational Therapy
Academic Level
Undergraduate student
Location
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Start Day/Time
4-25-2025 12:00 PM
End Day/Time
4-25-2025 2:00 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Prize Categories
Best Multidisciplinary Research or Collaboration, Most Scholarly Impact or Potential, Most Creative
How Leadership Influences the Development and Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy Practice: A Literature Review
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Strong leadership is fundamental to enhancing the effectiveness and growth of occupational therapy (OT) practice. This literature review examines how different leadership styles influence OT education, clinical management, and the profession’s capacity to adapt to changing healthcare demands. Effective leadership not only shapes workplace culture but also directly impacts patient outcomes and professional satisfaction. Studies show that transformational leadership has a positive correlation with improved leadership outcomes, promoting collaboration, motivation, and innovation within OT environments. In contrast, transactional leadership, apart from its contingent reward aspect, often negatively impacts leadership effectiveness. As healthcare continues to evolve, fostering strong leadership skills among OT professionals becomes crucial to navigating challenges and driving meaningful change. Therefore, reviewing these leadership skills will ensure the right practice is being sustained so aspiring occupational therapists like myself can thrive in their careers. By analyzing the role of leadership in OT education and clinical practice, this independent research emphasizes the importance of intentional leadership development to sustain and advance the profession in an increasingly complex healthcare landscape.
Students' Information
My name is Sydney Hess and I currently am a Junior on the 3+2 track for Occupational Therapy. At the end of this semester (Spring 2025), I will be graduating with my Bachelor's in Healthcare Administration, and in Spring 2027, I will receive my Masters in Occupational Therapy.