Certificate of International Merits - CIM

Final report

Fanny Johannesson

December 2015

Occupational Therapy programme

Lund University Faculty of Medicine Departement of Health Sciences Box 157, 221 00 LUND SWEDEN

International activities

The first international activity was a joint event with University of Southampton. One week

during my fourth semester Occupational Therapist students from the University of

Southampton came to visit our class. The purpose of the visit was to exchange experiences

and to discuss our profession in an international perspective.

A few months later I went to Canada for five weeks and through the University of Toronto I

was able to do my clinical work. I did my placement in the neurological department with a

focus on acquired brain injuries at Bridgepoint Active Healthcare rehabilitation hospital.

During the fifth semester, I was a student representative in the International Office at the

Faculty of Medicine where, among other things, we discussed upcoming international

activities within the faculty. During this semester I also attended the Workshop U21 Health

Science Group conference (UN SDG). It was two very interesting days where we discussed

health problems in a global perspective.

I also have had the privilege to be an international mentor. I was at Arrival day and helped

exchange students from all over the world to find the way to their new homes in Lund and

answering all their questions about studies, Lund city and Swedish culture. I also attended

several social events with the international students.

Through the education and thanks to the Faculty of Medicine, I have also had the opportunity

to attend to several very inspiring lectures with global health focus. During my placement in

the Clinical Education Department [KUA], Skåne University Hospital in Lund, I also had the

honor of being interviewed by a panel from Uganda who was interested in the way we worked

at KUA.

Reflection

Education and future profession in a global perspective

During my education I have had the opportunity to participate in many international activities

that have helped me grow, both personally and professionally. I have gained a great deal of

insight in other countries' healthcare systems, and furthermore my future profession in

particular. Occupational therapy is a relatively young profession in Sweden and still

unfamiliar to many people. Therefore, I found it very interesting to have had the chance to

discuss, both education and views of the profession, with occupational therapy students from

other countries. Also, it was a great opportunity to be able to go to North America, where the

profession is substantially more implemented. The clinical practice, both when it comes to

occupational therapy specifically but also the interprofessional teamwork, is very different in

North America and Sweden. I hope to be able introduce the benefits from my experiences in

my future work. In North America, I notice that there are many more venues where

occupational therapists are active, which I hope will be implemented in Sweden too.

Intercultural situations

As an occupational therapist, I will meet a lot of people from different countries and cultures.

Through my international credentials, I have a greater understanding of people's different

situations, occupational repertoire and way of life and I will be able to customize the

treatments more individually. In Toronto, the world's most multicultural city I heard, I

realized that even if there is a language barrier there are many ways to communicate and

make yourself understood. While traveling, by connecting and getting to know new people,

you get to know yourself a bit better as well.

International merits

I would recommend everyone to take the opportunity to collect international merits. Not only

because its a great merit for the future, but also as I mentioned before, an incredible chance to

grow, both personally and professionally. Having said that, the main reason that I wanted to

participate in international activities was that it is great fun. I have met many wonderful

people and gain great new friends and memories for life.

Bridgepoint Hospital, Toronto My colleagues

My office My other office

Downtown Toronto

Thanksgiving

Hockey faceoff, Toronto Maple Leafs – Montreal Canadiens