Preserving Our Past, Informing Our Future

Sydney Stevenson
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Preserving Our Past, Informing Our Future is an eight-part podcast series that explores the history, values, and evolving identity of occupational therapy through conversations with renowned scholar Dr. Kathlyn Reed. Hosted by Sydney Stevenson, the series traces the profession’s journey from its founding vision in 1917 to the present day, examining the philosophical tensions, educational developments, and enduring questions that continue to shape practice. Through reflections on scholarship, the role of institutions like Texas Woman’s University, and the importance of preserving professional history, this series invites listeners to consider how the past informs the future—and what it means to carry that legacy forward in occupational therapy today. This series was created as a part of my OTD capstone project in collaboration with the Blagg-Huey Library at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Faculty Mentor: Lou Ann Hintz, PhD, OTR Agency Mentor: Esther Garcia, MLS  For more information about OT history, visit otleaders.org 

Episodes

  1. Apr 10

    Episode 8: Legacy and the Future

    In the final episode of Preserving Our Past, Informing Our Future, the host, Sydney Stevenson, sits down with Dr. Reed to reflect on legacy, scholarship, and the future of occupational therapy. Drawing on more than five decades of teaching, researching, and writing, Dr. Reed shares what continues to inspire her and how she hopes her work will shape the next generation. This closing conversation invites listeners to consider what we inherit from the past, what we choose to carry forward, and how each of us contributes to the future of occupational therapy.  This series was created as a part of my capstone project in collaboration with the Blagg-Huey Library at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Faculty Mentor: Lou Ann Hintz, PhD, OTR Agency Mentor: Esther Garcia, MLS  For more information about OT history, visit otleaders.org

    47 min

  2. Apr 10

    Episode 7: History as a Professional Responsibility

    In episode 7 of Preserving Our Past, Informing Our Future, the host and Dr. Reed reflect on what is lost when practitioners become disconnected from their roots, and why engaging with occupational therapy’s past is essential to shaping its future. This episode invites listeners, especially students and emerging practitioners, to see history not as static knowledge, but as a living foundation that informs practice, identity, and the ongoing evolution of occupational therapy.  This series was created as a part of my capstone project in collaboration with the Blagg-Huey Library at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Faculty Mentor: Lou Ann Hintz, PhD, OTR Agency Mentor: Esther Garcia, MLS  For more information about OT history, visit otleaders.org

    21 min

  3. Apr 10

    Episode 6: Looking Forward by Looking Back

    In episode 6 of Preserving Our Past, Informing Our Future, the host invites Dr. Reed to reflect on the present and future of occupational therapy. Drawing on decades of experience, Dr. Reed shares her perspectives on today's practice, research, and education, highlighting what gives her hope, what concerns her, and what elements of the profession’s past may be worth reclaiming. This episode explores how occupational therapy continues to evolve, reminding listeners that its future is shaped by an ongoing dialogue between tradition, innovation, and purpose.  This series was created as a part of my OTD capstone project in collaboration with the Blagg-Huey Library at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Faculty Mentor: Lou Ann Hintz, PhD, OTR Agency Mentor: Esther Garcia, MLS  For more information about OT history, visit otleaders.org

    44 min

  4. Apr 10

    Episode 5: The TWU Chapter & The Role of Scholarship and Libraries

    In episode 5 of Preserving Our Past, Informing Our Future, the host and Dr. Reed turn their focus to Texas Woman’s University and its lasting impact on occupational therapy education. Reflecting on TWU’s 125-year legacy, Dr. Reed shares her experiences as a faculty member and the values that define the program. The conversation also highlights the critical role of scholarship and libraries in preserving the profession's history, reminding listeners that what we choose to document today helps guide the future of occupational therapy.  This series was created as a part of my OTD capstone project in collaboration with the Blagg-Huey Library at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Faculty Mentor: Lou Ann Hintz, PhD, OTR Agency Mentor: Esther Garcia, MLS  For more information about OT history, visit otleaders.org

    43 min

  5. Apr 10

    Episode 4: OT Education Then and Now

    In episode 4 of Preserving Our Past, Informing Our Future, the host and Dr. Reed explore the evolution of occupational therapy education. From the War Emergency Courses to today’s complex systems of accreditation and credentialing, Dr. Reed reflects on what it means to build and sustain educational programs, including her experience founding the OT program at the University of Oklahoma. This episode examines how educational standards have changed over time, while revealing the enduring questions that continue to shape how future occupational therapists are prepared.  This series was created as a part of my OTD capstone project in collaboration with the Blagg-Huey Library at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Faculty Mentor: Lou Ann Hintz, PhD, OTR Agency Mentor: Esther Garcia, MLS  For more information about OT history, visit otleaders.org

    35 min

  6. Apr 10

    Episode 3: Core Values & Philosophical Tensions

    In episode 3 of Preserving Our Past, Informing Our Future, Dr. Reed and the host explore how early influences like moral treatment, humanism, and the Arts and Crafts movement shaped the profession's values, while external pressures pushed it towards the medical model. Together, they unpack the enduring tension between these perspectives and consider how that dynamic continues to shape the way occupational therapy defines what is truly therapeutic.  This series was created as a part of my OTD capstone project in collaboration with the Blagg-Huey Library at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Faculty Mentor: Lou Ann Hintz, PhD, OTR Agency Mentor: Esther Garcia, MLS  For more information about OT history, visit otleaders.org

    28 min

  7. Apr 10

    Episode 2: The Founding Vision of OT

    In episode 2 of Preserving Our Past, Informing Our Future, host Sydney Stevenson continues the conversation with Dr. Reed, turning to the origins of occupational therapy and the vision of its founders. Together, they explore the founding of the profession in 1917, the community-based perspectives that shaped early practice, and the deeper beliefs about occupation that guided its earliest leaders. This episode invites listeners to reconsider how those foundational ideas continue to influence and challenge occupational therapy today.  This series was created as a part of my capstone project in collaboration with the Blagg-Huey Library at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Faculty Mentor: Lou Ann Hintz, PhD, OTR Agency Mentor: Esther Garcia, MLS  For more information about OT history, visit otleaders.org

    34 min

  8. Apr 10

    Episode 1: The Making of a Historian

    In this opening episode of Preserving Our Past, Informing Our Future, we are introduced to Dr. Kathlyn Reed, a renowned occupational therapy scholar, educator, and historian. From a chance moment in her childhood that sparked her curiosity to a lifetime of research and scholarship, Dr. Reed reflects on the education, experiences, and mentorship that shaped her path. Listeners will hear how her passion for discovery led her to uncover and preserve the profession’s history, ultimately becoming one of occupational therapy’s most influential voices.  This series was created as a part of my OTD capstone project in collaboration with the Blagg-Huey Library at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Faculty Mentor: Lou Ann Hintz, PhD, OTR Agency Mentor: Esther Garcia, MLS  For more information about OT history, visit otleaders.org

    43 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

Preserving Our Past, Informing Our Future is an eight-part podcast series that explores the history, values, and evolving identity of occupational therapy through conversations with renowned scholar Dr. Kathlyn Reed. Hosted by Sydney Stevenson, the series traces the profession’s journey from its founding vision in 1917 to the present day, examining the philosophical tensions, educational developments, and enduring questions that continue to shape practice. Through reflections on scholarship, the role of institutions like Texas Woman’s University, and the importance of preserving professional history, this series invites listeners to consider how the past informs the future—and what it means to carry that legacy forward in occupational therapy today. This series was created as a part of my OTD capstone project in collaboration with the Blagg-Huey Library at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Faculty Mentor: Lou Ann Hintz, PhD, OTR Agency Mentor: Esther Garcia, MLS  For more information about OT history, visit otleaders.org 

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