Faculty, students, and alumni from the Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, to participate in the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) Congress, a global gathering that welcomed nearly 2,400 occupational therapy professionals from 78 countries. The biennial meeting serves as one of the profession’s most influential venues for international education, research exchange, and cultural dialogue.
Duke OTD’s delegation included faculty members Tomeico Faison, OTD, OTR/L, assistant professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery; Director of Innovation in Professional Pathways; Michael Iwama, PhD, MSc, BScOT, professor of Orthopaedic Surgery; and Antoine Bailliard, PhD, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, whose leadership and scholarship reflect the program’s growing global footprint. The group represented Duke through presentations, networking events, and cross‑national dialogues centered on advancing occupational therapy practice and education worldwide.
A topic throughout the conference was the expanding global influence of the Kawa Model of Occupational Therapy, developed by Iwama. Attendees noted that the model is now widely embedded in foundational textbooks, clinical practice frameworks, and university curricula across continents. Its prominence at WFOT reinforced the model’s standing as one of the most culturally responsive and internationally adopted conceptual foundations in the field—and Duke OTD as the academic home where it continues to evolve.
Duke’s presence included a collaborative poster presentation titled: “Empowering Students Through Mentorship: A Model for Inclusive Excellence.”
The poster was authored and presented by:
- Yaa Quaning, OTD-S
- April Burch, OTD (Alumna)
- Gloria Caesar, OTR/L (Alumna)
- Karen Johnson, OTR/L, Duke Health OT and mentor
- Tomeico Faison, OTD, OTR/L
Their work highlighted a mentorship model grounded in equity, empowerment, and professional identity development—offering strategies for academic programs seeking to strengthen inclusive excellence and support diverse learners.
In addition to the poster, Bailliard delivered an oral presentation titled: “Developing a Sensory Health Screener for Community Mental Health.”
Presented as part of the conference’s “Mental Health & Wellbeing” track, his talk shared early findings from the Bass Connections Sensory Health Lab, which he directs. The presentation was well received, generating substantial discussion and numerous questions from attendees interested in the screener’s potential to support sensory‑informed mental health practice in community settings.
Students and Alumni Share Global Perspectives
Two current Duke OTD students, Lindsay Durdle and Yaa Quaning, engaged in a range of sessions and global conversations that broadened their perspectives on culturally grounded practice and international models of occupational therapy care.
Duke OTD alumni Dr. Gloria Caesar, Dr. Virginia Quellmalz‑Zallocco, and Dr. April Burch also participated, bringing valuable insight from their clinical and academic experiences and demonstrating the meaningful contributions Duke-trained practitioners bring to the global OT community.
A Global Community, A Global Impact
The WFOT Congress highlighted not only the shared challenges and opportunities facing occupational therapy worldwide, but also the significant scholarly and leadership contributions emerging from the Duke OTD program. With the Kawa Model shaping global curricula, faculty advancing research on mental and sensory health, and students and alumni contributing their voices, the program continues to help shape the future of the profession worldwide.