Students at this year’s Patient Evaluation Day felt a little more nervous than usual. The event, which offers occupational therapy students a chance to interact with patients, featured a special guest: UWM Chancellor Mark Mone, who injured his hands in a bicycle accident over the summer.
“I was excited to help our students become experts in their fields,” Mone said of the experience. “It’s rare for me to have the opportunity to interact one-on-one with students like this. I was incredibly impressed with their knowledge and caring approach as well as the recommendations they made. UWM can be proud of the health care professionals we are producing.”
The event focused on upper extremities, so faculty members invited a few of their own patients and put the word out on social media to encourage people with hand and forearm injuries to attend. About eight volunteers, including Mone, came to the event, where they were examined by students.
The event helps students bridge the gap between the classroom and the clinic, said Nicole Hoover, a lecturer in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences & Technology.
“If I could, I would have students do this every week,” she said. “I think it helps with their confidence more than anything. I am thankful for all our volunteers, including Chancellor Mone, for giving their time so students can practice being the professionals they will one day become.”
Two graduate students in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program evaluated Mone. Samantha Ohm and Melodi Jahangiri took turns listening to him describe his injury, and then they each examined his hands and administered assessment tests. The two consulted after the examination and then emailed the chancellor their recommended interventions, which included exercises to increase strength, flexibility and comfort, and adaptive equipment, such as crocheted doorknob covers to help with hand grip.
“At first, I was nervous,” Ohm said, “but I quickly realized Chancellor Mone is very nice and personable. Most parts of the evaluation were easier than I imagined, as communication carried smoothly, and we had a lot to talk about! For other parts, I know I have room for improvement and that reflecting on strengths and weaknesses is a crucial part of learning to improve for next time! I appreciate the chancellor taking the time to participate. I hope the experience provided him with some clarity and insight as well.”
Jahangiri, an international student from Canada, said she was able to hone her clinical skills and expand her knowledge of how to assess and address specific conditions in hand therapy.
“The experience deepened my understanding of what tools and techniques are most effective in evaluating function and planning treatment for hand-related conditions,” she said. “It also enhanced my clinical reasoning as I worked to tailor assessments and recommendations to his unique needs. This session bridged the gap between theoretical learning and practical application and strengthened my readiness to work one-on-one with patients in the clinical setting.”
