Meet OSOT's Spring 2026 Student OTs and OTA 

OSOT is pleased to host three students between March and May 2026. Please join us in welcoming (from left to right):

  • Tessa Murchison, a second-year student occupational therapist from the University of Ottawa
  • Yi-Yun (Emma) Sun, a second-year student OTA from Centennial College.
  • Namiko Huynh, a second-year student occupational therapist from Western University



These students are working on many amazing projects to support OSOT members, including the implementation of OSOT's first Health Technology and Innovation Focus Group, conducting a needs assessment on French-language resources, amplifying OTA voices across the profession, and more. This is the first time OSOT has hosted student OTs and an OTA on placement together, and we are seeing wonderful collaboration and shared learning.

We asked Namiko, Tessa, and Emma what led them to occupational therapy and their experiences at OSOT, so far. Here’s what they had to say:

Tell us about yourself and your path to pursing occupational therapy as a career.

  • Namiko: “I completed my undergraduate studies in Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo. While I have always been passionate about supporting others, my time in Waterloo sparked an interest in the intersection of health and technology, which ultimately drew me to occupational therapy as a space to explore innovative, meaningful solutions in practice.”
  • Tessa: “I completed my Bachelor’s in Health Sciences at Queen’s University in 2024. In this degree, I was equipped with a strong foundation in physiology, anatomy, policymaking, and opportunities to analyze the intersecting social determinants that influence clients’ health and wellbeing. In my past job experience working with youth with disabilities and older adults, I worked alongside two student OTs as they were completing their community development placements. It was at this point that I developed an interest in occupational therapy; I could see the direct impact they had on their clients by creating an empowering environment. I am excited to practice patience, empathy, and compassion in this career!”
  • Emma: “I am currently an international OTA student in Canada, and I previously worked as a registered nurse for seven years in my home country. I chose to pursue OTA because I want to be part of patients’ recovery journeys, witnessing and celebrating their progress.”

What projects or initiatives are you working on at OSOT?

  • Namiko: “I have had the opportunity to lead the development and evaluation of the association’s first Health Technology Innovation Focus Groups, in collaboration with student OTA, Emma. In addition, I am contributing to an initiative on enhancing how OSOT’s work is communicated to students and new graduates, with the goal of fostering greater awareness, engagement, and collaboration within the profession. Additionally, I am working alongside student OT, Tessa, to analyze OSOT’s practice data, with the aim of identifying key themes and developing actionable recommendations to support the organization’s ongoing work.”
  • Tessa: “One of my initiatives is a needs assessment on the availability of French resources, and making recommendations on how the association might include French professionals and clients in future work. The OT program at uOttawa is French, so I have learned the importance of being active in our offering of services in both official languages. I am also working on the development of a Task Force to create a practice resource for paediatric feeding and swallowing.”
  • Emma: “I am working to amplify OTA voices at OSOT by recruiting more OTA students, bridging the gap between OTs and OTAs, and encouraging more collaborative and mutually understanding relationships between them. I am also working with student OT, Namiko, to develop a Health Tech Innovation Focus Group, where OTs, OTAs, and students provide feedback to tech companies to help improve products that support client independence and quality of life.”



What has it been like collaborating with other OT/OTA students?

  • Namiko: “Collaborating with OT and OTA students from different programs and regions has been a valuable experience as it brings together a range of perspectives that enrich our work. It has highlighted the strength of interdisciplinary collaboration, and I hope to see more opportunities for shared learning between OT and OTA students in future placements.”
  • Tessa: “It has been an excellent time. My experience working with OTAs has been limited so far, and Emma brings an important perspective to the table and has shown me how beneficial working with an OTA can be for an OT. The three of us have had a variety of experiences from our clinical placements, and being able to share these with each other has opened my eyes to just how vast the scope of occupational therapy can be. I feel supported by Emma and Namiko and I look forward to the projects we can continue collaborating on!”
  • Emma: “I’ve learned a lot from the OT students, including their inclusive and respectful approach and new theoretical concepts, which has encouraged me to communicate and share more proactively. We work in the same office and also meet virtually to collaborate on projects, which has helped me improve my communication and teamwork skills.”

What are you looking forward to during the remainder of your placement?

  • Namiko: “I look forward to continuing to build meaningful connections with the OSOT team and contributing to the progression of ongoing projects. I am especially excited to see these initiatives come to fruition and am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the impactful work being done at OSOT.”
  • Tessa: “I look forward to my upcoming projects where I can discuss directly with practicing OTs and OTAs and hear their perspectives on the topics I am working on. I am especially excited to learn from subject matter experts within the task forces OSOT organizes. Finally, I am eager to continue taking on responsibilities to support the practice and make meaningful contributions to OSOT and beyond, before the end of my placement.”
  • Emma: “I hope to develop a short presentation to highlight the role of OTA/PTAs in the healthcare system and what we do in practice. By doing so, I aim to raise awareness and promote greater inclusivity within OSOT, both internally and for the public. I am also organizing my experiences from this placement, noting ideas for future projects, and developing some guidance for future OTA students having placement in OSOT.”



OSOT thanks Namiko, Tessa, and Emma for taking the time to share their experiences. We look forward to seeing the impact of their work over the remainder of their placements. To learn more about student placements at OSOT, contact us at osot@osot.on.ca.