Preceptor Spotlight: Colleen Ryan

For more than 30 years, Colleen Ryan has been offering her time and expertise to student occupational therapists to help them learn the ropes and develop a passion for the profession.  

Colleen shares how being a preceptor is a rewarding experience and an opportunity to shape the future of occupational therapy. 

Can you tell us a bit about your position and your role in supervising occupational therapy students? 

I worked as an occupational therapist in the Rehab unit at Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga for most of my career. In the beginning I was working in both outpatient and inpatient rehab. As of recently, I have been working in acute care medicine.  

When I started my occupational therapy career at the hospital, taking students and mentoring was a responsibility, which, at that time, felt like karma. Being a new grad, I wanted to give back to those who formed my education and passion for the profession. 

Do you have a guess as to how many students you have worked with? Do you keep in touch with any of them? 

I have been taking on a student nearly every year that I have been working here, so probably 25 to 30 students. 

A lot of them do reach out to me, especially early in their careers.  I like to see where they go and what challenges they are taking on. It’s wonderful to hear from them and connect once in a while. Some have ended up working here at Trillium Health, often in different areas. 

What aspects of being a preceptor do you find the most gratifying? Do you have a memorable moment from your experience you’d like to share?  

I really enjoy learning from the students. As part of our role as a preceptor, we ask them to think outside the box, be creative and apply what they have learned in school and from their own experiences when working with patients.  

Some of their ideas and perspectives inspire me. At times we can get stuck doing the same thing over and over again so it can be great to have input from someone with a fresh lens. It’s exciting when I reflect on a student’s contribution and think, “Wow, I wouldn’t have thought to do it that way, but that’s a great idea.” 

I find being able to pass on knowledge from my experience as an occupational therapist sparks that passion in others. I love it when I start to see their competency and confidence grow. 

What are some common challenges or obstacles that occupational therapy students face during their clinical placements, and how do you support them through these challenges?  

One of the biggest challenges is the fast-paced nature of the acute medicine unit – sometimes it feels like we are moving at 100 miles an hour. When we are in the middle of that fast-paced situation, I find I need to stop myself and consider the impact on student learning and reflect on what has been happening and what we have done. Having open dialogue is important to enhance the comfort level so the student can ask for clarification related to ongoing processes and management of patient care. 

I usually guide students in the beginning but once they better understand the opportunities in the placement, I encourage them to focus on what they want to gain from the experience and to identify the areas they can build upon as an occupational therapist. 

Why do you think it’s important for preceptors to offer their time to help train future occupational therapists?   

As a preceptor, it can be challenging taking on a student because it does require added time, which we often do not have, but I know that the time I spend with them in the beginning I will get back in the end when they are able to better manage the patient care caseload.

Teaching is never something I regret. I enjoy working with students and I love their fresh attitude and their desire to learn. I enjoy being part of their excitement when the academic world becomes real and tangible, and they start putting the pieces together.  

I am very passionate about our profession and that’s something I want to pass on to others. I see teaching students as an opportunity to shape future professionals, to help build their passion and their competencies and make sure they are prepared for the career that they have invested so much time in.