Great Success for OT at NAMIWalks NYC
On Saturday May 12, 2012 over 75 occupational therapy educators, clinicians, and students in New York City joined forces with NAMI-NYC Metro, an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, to walk for recovery, wellness, and an end to the stigma of mental illness. Students and faculty from York College, New York University, Columbia University, Long Island University, and SUNY Downstate Medical Center gathered at the South Street Seaport in downtown Manhattan for the 10th annual NAMI-NYC Metro Walk. The teams walked together halfway across the Brooklyn Bridge and back in honor of the OT profession’s dedication to mental health advocacy and recovery. The group was led by Ian Galperin, a LIU OTS who carried our banner.
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In addition, OTS from SUNY Downstate Medical Center participated in a metabolic screening booth. Students measured blood pressure and used the Tanita SC-331S to measure metabolic information including body mass index, fat percentage, muscle mass, basal metabolic rate, metabolic age, and more. The information was interpreted by Downstate psychiatric residents at a health counseling station of the booth. Not only was the metabolic screening a success, but the NAMI East Flatbush at Downstate Team was also one of the ten largest teams at the NAMI event.
Special thanks to Sandra Ghelman, who spearheaded the well-represented NYU team. Thanks also to Eileen LaMourie, Kim Metzger Mittman, Mabel Martinez-Almonte, Jeni Dulek, and the NAMI East Flatbush Downstate Team for their hard work running the metabolic screening booth.
Written by Kristen Sullivan, Muhammad Ayub, OTS, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, OT Program.
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