Whitworth University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program completed its first international fieldwork rotation last month in Rwanda, marking a meaningful step forward in expanding the program’s global reach and impact.
Three second-year students and Assistant Professor Bonnie Kirkpatrick spent nearly two weeks immersed in the country’s cultural context, learning about the history of the 1994 genocide and generational trauma and the daily routines of rural communities, while serving children with disabilities through Love With Actions.
Love With Actions founder Gilbert Kubwimana has ties to Whitworth and was recently honored with the university’s Distinguished Community Service Award. The fieldwork program was also a collaboration with Global Engagement Institute.
Through this experience, our students:
- Gained hands-on experience in a global health setting.
- Developed cultural humility and a broader understanding of occupational therapy practices at Love With Actions outpatient clinics and in serving rural families through home health.
- Engaged in interdisciplinary collaboration with local partners and global health professionals, including meetings with administrators and students at the University of Rwanda.
- Participated in capacity-building efforts supporting Love With Actions’ long-term community goals and developing plans for next year’s fieldwork with the organization and GEI.
By participating in fieldwork beyond traditional settings, Whitworth’s OTD students gain a deeper appreciation for how environmental, cultural and systemic factors influence participation, health and well-being. Experiences like this prepare future occupational therapists who are not only skilled clinicians but also compassionate global citizens.
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