HU Fort Wayne OTD Program’s Mission in Guatemala

Huntington University’s Fort Wayne Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program was able to complete another faith-based mission trip to Guatemala to provide seating and mobility services to a local community. The trip was conducted with in-country partners, Bethel Ministries International — a local Christian organization led by missionaries Ben and Emily Mooney.

In past years, the trip consisted of first-year OTD students and HU faculty from the Fort Wayne OTD program, but this year was a little different, including nursing and occupational therapy assistant students along with first-, second-, and third-year OTD students. While this trip has always provided opportunity for cultural enrichment, knowledge application, and faith integration, this year’s project also provided students with experience of interprofessional collaboration — a vital skill when entering a healthcare field. The trip was organized and led by HU professor Dr. Patricia Henton, OTR/L, and adjunct professor Dr. Emily Smitson, OTR/L. The team was blessed to be able to provide a five-day seating and mobility clinic in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, and ultimately distribute over 100 customized wheelchairs in addition to walkers, crutches, and canes. The last two days of service were completed at a children’s home, where seating systems were either refurbished or replaced depending on the needs of the client. The Fort Wayne OTD program is prayerfully anticipating more trips to Guatemala in the years to come to continue to provide hope and mobility to this community.