Occupational Therapy Career Path: Finding Purpose in Helping Others

Occupational therapy is a profession centered on helping people achieve independence, restore function and live life to its fullest potential through functional recovery in OT.

For Kirstin Borge, OTD, that mission began close to home. As a high school student, she watched her grandfather work through rehabilitation after a stroke and saw firsthand the impact of occupational therapy on a person's confidence, mobility and quality of life.

"I played this little role of checking in: 'Are you doing your exercises?'" she said. "That was my first real experience with OT, and it stuck with me."

That early exposure sparked a lifelong passion for helping others regain function and independence, one patient at a time.

Discovering a Calling and Beginning an Occupational Therapy Career Path

Borge also encountered occupational therapy through a high school career exploration class that matched students to potential professions.

"It was kind of luck of circumstance," she said. "I knew I wanted to be in health care, and OT showed up on a career quiz. Once I observed in a hospital setting, I knew it was the right fit."

What drew her in most was the diversity of the profession. Occupational therapists can work in pediatrics, neurorehabilitation, inpatient hospitals or outpatient orthopedic care.

"The variability was so appealing," she said. "I liked that I could go into OT but still have so many different directions I could take. It didn't feel set in stone."

That flexibility, she notes, is part of what makes occupational therapy both rewarding and misunderstood.

"People say, 'That sounds great, but what exactly do you do?'" she said with a laugh. "OT can look completely different depending on the setting, but that's what makes it special."

Choosing an OTD Program That Builds Future Practitioners

Borge earned her doctor of occupational therapy degree from the University of Mary, a choice that combined proximity, community and purpose.

"I grew up in South Dakota and wanted to be relatively close to home," she said. "The University of Mary was only a few hours away, and it just felt like the right fit."

Borge appreciated the continuity between her undergraduate and graduate studies, which provided a smooth transition into the OTD program. That stability, combined with supportive faculty and peers, helped her grow from student to confident clinician.

"It should just feel like the right fit," she reflected. "Talk to people, ask questions and trust your gut when choosing a program."

Transitioning from OTD Graduate to Occupational Therapist

After graduation, Borge joined Lone Peak Physical Therapy in Belgrade, Montana, specializing in outpatient orthopedic care for the upper extremity.

"My patients range from those recovering from hand surgeries to people dealing with shoulder injuries or cervical pain," she said.

Starting as a new graduate, she found a workplace culture that prioritized mentorship and growth.

"Everyone was so welcoming," Borge said. "Even my clinic director, with 10 years of experience, told me, 'I still ask questions.' That gave me permission to keep learning."

Still, she acknowledges that the first year out of school was challenging.

"It's a big shift when it's you, your license and your day-to-day decisions," she said. "But having supportive mentors made all the difference."

Building Relationships Through Functional Recovery in OT

Borge's favorite part of her job is the long-term relationships she builds with patients.

"I get to follow people through their entire recovery," she said. "A plan of care might last six weeks or six months, but I see them regain function and get back to what they love doing. That's incredibly fulfilling."

Her approach centers on empathy and personalization, meeting people where they are and tailoring exercises to what matters most to them.

"Everyone's goals are different," she said. "I want therapy to feel valuable and connected to their daily life."

Exploring a Dynamic and Rewarding Career in OT

When reflecting on what she wishes she had known early on, Borge encourages students to explore the field as widely as possible.

"If you observe one setting and think, 'This isn't for me,' that's not the end of OT," she said. "There are so many directions you can go: hospital, outpatient, pediatrics, neuro, schools. It's such a broad and adaptable profession."

She also emphasizes the importance of shadowing and observation before applying to programs.

"It's a hard profession to describe until you see it in action," she said. "Get into a clinic, ask questions and see the impact up close."

Seeing Life Through the Lens of Occupational Therapy

Three years into her career, Borge says occupational therapy has changed not just how she practices but how she views people.

"OT has made me look at people more holistically," she said. "It's helped me understand how physical, mental and social factors all connect — and how we can help people live more fully because of that."

For Borge, it's a profession defined by compassion, adaptability and purpose.

"It's pretty awesome to help people get back to living their lives," she said.