Kristina Camille Manapat OTR/L: Bringing Creativity Into Hand Therapy as a New Grad episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 28, 2025 · 58 MIN

Kristina Camille Manapat OTR/L: Bringing Creativity Into Hand Therapy as a New Grad

from Once Upon OT · host Jordan Agabin

In this episode, I am joined by Kristina Camille Manapat - a new grad occupational therapist practicing full-time in the hand therapy setting & per diem in a hospital settingShe shares her journey through the phases of becoming an OT from early experience as a hand therapy aide > fieldwork 2s > NBCOT study prep > to making that transition as a new grad OTIn this conversation, we also discuss the many ways that OTs can highlight their skills and fill different roles in the world ***If you are a new grad OT with interest in hand therapy, this episode is for you! TIMESTAMPS:(0:45) What is your occupational therapy story? Who is Kristina?(3:20) What was occupational therapy school experience like?(12:29) Working as a hand therapy aide WHILE attending your occupational therapy program(14:32) Fieldwork 2 Experience — Hospital (Ortho, ICU, ER) (19:19) Fieldwork 2 Experience — Outpatient Hand Therapy (private practice)(23:07) What might you tell or share with a current fieldwork 2 student going through a difficult time with their placement? (26:00) How did you prepare for the NBCOT? (Resources, strategies, study tips that worked for you, etc.)(29:43) Entering the field as a new grad occupational therapist | mindset & approach(31:45) Any additional advice for a new grad OT starting their first job?(34:03) Hand Therapy as a New Grad OT | what’s that like for you so far?(36:18) What is a typical day in the life as a hand therapist?(38:56) How do you handle time management/multitasking when seeing more than one patient an hour?(40:46) What are some challenging aspects in your current role?(42:08) Kristina’s favorite interventions/treatment ideas in the hand therapy clinic(46:32) How confident are you with splinting & orthotics? Any advice for beginners?(49:58) Your long-term goals as an occupational therapist | highlighting the variety of traditional, specialty and emerging settings of OT(55:32) BONUS LIGHTNING ROUNDFollow us on insta :)https://www.instagram.com/kcamillionaire/https://www.instagram.com/once_upon_ot/

In this episode, I am joined by Kristina Camille Manapat - a new grad occupational therapist practicing full-time in the hand therapy setting & per diem in a hospital settingShe shares her journey through the phases of becoming an OT from early experience as a hand therapy aide > fieldwork 2s > NBCOT study prep > to making that transition as a new grad OTIn this conversation, we also discuss the many ways that OTs can highlight their skills and fill different roles in the world ***If you are a new grad OT with interest in hand therapy, this episode is for you! TIMESTAMPS:(0:45) What is your occupational therapy story? Who is Kristina?(3:20) What was occupational therapy school experience like?(12:29) Working as a hand therapy aide WHILE attending your occupational therapy program(14:32) Fieldwork 2 Experience — Hospital (Ortho, ICU, ER) (19:19) Fieldwork 2 Experience — Outpatient Hand Therapy (private practice)(23:07) What might you tell or share with a current fieldwork 2 student going through a difficult time with their placement? (26:00) How did you prepare for the NBCOT? (Resources, strategies, study tips that worked for you, etc.)(29:43) Entering the field as a new grad occupational therapist | mindset & approach(31:45) Any additional advice for a new grad OT starting their first job?(34:03) Hand Therapy as a New Grad OT | what’s that like for you so far?(36:18) What is a typical day in the life as a hand therapist?(38:56) How do you handle time management/multitasking when seeing more than one patient an hour?(40:46) What are some challenging aspects in your current role?(42:08) Kristina’s favorite interventions/treatment ideas in the hand therapy clinic(46:32) How confident are you with splinting & orthotics? Any advice for beginners?(49:58) Your long-term goals as an occupational therapist | highlighting the variety of traditional, specialty and emerging settings of OT(55:32) BONUS LIGHTNING ROUNDFollow us on insta :)https://www.instagram.com/kcamillionaire/https://www.instagram.com/once_upon_ot/

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Kristina Camille Manapat OTR/L: Bringing Creativity Into Hand Therapy as a New Grad

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This episode was published on August 28, 2025.

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In this episode, I am joined by Kristina Camille Manapat - a new grad occupational therapist practicing full-time in the hand therapy setting & per diem in a hospital settingShe shares her journey through the phases of becoming an OT from early...

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