Meet our clinicians is a series to celebrate the people from our team who bring CBI Health’s promise to life everyday by providing excellent care and helping our clients get back to what is important to them.
Today, get to know Adam Ly, a registered occupational therapist at CBI Health London Fanshawe. Adam is an inspiring clinician and advocate who empowers his clients to live fulfilling lives by helping to reduce barriers to the things they need and want to do, including staying at or returning to work. His main clinical interests include mental health [e.g., anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)], brain injuries, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), late-diagnosis autism, physician health, and other conditions affecting cognitive functioning.
At a Glance
Name: Adam Ly
Profession: Registered Occupational Therapist
Academic Background:
- Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences in Health Promotion, Western University (2014)
- Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Western University (2016)
Journey with CBI Health: Adam joined CBI Health 8 years ago, beginning his career with his final school placement, which soon became his first role as a Registered Occupational Therapist.
Highlights and Achievements: Adam is an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto and a Seasonal Lecturer at Western University. Over the past few years, he was honoured by the Western University Faculty of Health Sciences with the Award of Recognition, and more recently the New Alumni Award.
How would you define occupational therapy, and who can benefit from it?
"Occupational therapists holistically look at how you function in your daily life, and we will often focus on providing education, life skills, strategies, accommodations, environmental changes, assistive devices, and ways to make managing your life easier with an injury, condition, or disability. This may include but not limited to counselling for emotional support, developing routines, engaging in activities within your limits, creating goals, implementing sleep routines, learning relaxation techniques, using compensatory cognitive strategies, and creating a self-management toolkit for your symptoms.
I think anyone who experiences physical, sensory, cognitive, or emotional difficulties can benefit from occupational therapy, particularly those who are looking for practical skills and solutions. This may be someone who deals with a concussion, chronic pain, mood disorders, or cognitive impairments.
As health professionals, we can put it all together and see how this impacts the person's life and the things that are meaningful for them. We work together with your healthcare team to help you get back to the things you want or need to do."
What does a typical day for you look like?
"A typical day looks like seeing approximately 4-10 clients per day. I may also be meeting new hires for training and mentorship. I also will be answering emails, making phone calls, and writing reports. Occasionally, I might visit a home, worksite, or community space to understand how a client functions in their environments and make recommendations for treatment or accommodations."
How has CBI Health impacted your journey as a clinician?
"CBI Health has made a really big difference because it's my first and only job to date as a registered occupational therapist.
I'm still here 8 years later because they have offered me such amazing mentorship and support to develop my clinical skills and freely explore my clinical interests. Because CBI Health is one of the largest healthcare companies in Canada, I have access to the support of a vast network of colleagues, not just occupational therapists, but other professionals too. The leadership team has been very supportive as well.
There are so many opportunities to grow, and I've seen a lot of my colleagues grow into roles that are really suited for their strengths. I think that the diversity of opportunities, the level of support and the variety of clients that I see really keep me motivated."
On a personal note, complete this sentence: The best advice I ever received was…
"Just focus on providing excellent care and everything else will fall into place. It has for me!"