Interview with Kathlyn Reed

Objective . The purpose of the study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond. Method. This was a qualitative research study that used a life history approach which allowed the focus to be on the participant’s involvement in the evolution of occupational therapy practice. The participant was selected from a participant list compiled through purposive sampling by the project directors. Informed consent was obtained prior to the interview and the project was reviewed by the UND Institutional Review Board and because of the study design, the formal IRB process was waived. The interview was recorded, transcribed, and an open coding process was used for data. Results. Data analysis generated 18 codes. The codes were classified into three categories, including personality components, career development, and contributions to occupational therapy. Three corresponding themes emerged from each category. A single assertion was then developed to capture the essence of Dr. Reed’s life history. Conclusion. A combination of personality components, career development, and personal contributions to OT have been a personal motivator for Dr. Reed to continue to enhance the occupational therapy profession in any way she can