NAVIGATING THE TWISTS AND TURNS : INTERVIEW WITH ESTHER BUCHBINDER
BY HANNAH VERCELLOTTI , OTS
Life is full of twists and turns . This popular sentiment seems especially fitting given the past year . The COVID-19 pandemic marked a major twist in our daily lives , from where we attend work or school to what we do in our free time . Still , we are all making the most out of this situation and working around all of the challenges of this year . Interviewing pediatric occupational therapist Esther Buchbinder , I was inspired by her eloquence and candor in reflecting on how she navigated all of the twists and turns in her professional life . From changing majors to having children to working in a pandemic , Esther has shown a level of authenticity and dedication that can serve as inspiration to all occupational therapy practitioners as we navigate this unprecedented time .
Esther ’ s interest in rehabilitation began back in her high school years . After engaging in volunteer work with children with disabilities at Easter Seals , she decided to attend school to become a physical therapist . So , how did Esther end up as an occupational therapist ? She found that chemistry and physics were not her passion and chose to explore a career in occupational therapy instead .
Esther earned her bachelor ’ s degree in occupational therapy in 1979 from the University of Illinois Medical Center , which has since become the University of Illinois-Chicago ( UIC ). While she fondly recalls many aspects of her occupational therapy education , the art classes she took were especially memorable . Weaving , crafting , woodworking , and drafting were all required by her program . While she is now left wondering how these classes relate to her current practice , she is also left with the lasting memories created by the projects . In fact , Esther has kept many of those creations , admitting that she “ just can ’ t get rid of them .”
After finishing school , Esther decided that she was very happy with her decision to become an occupational therapist . The holistic nature of our profession really spoke to her , and she noted that in this field she “ could do everything [ she ] wanted to do ,” including working with kids . Helping children engage in all of life ’ s meaningful activities was a fulfilling path that she was ready to embark on . From 1979 to 1992 , Esther worked in a variety of pediatric settings including Wyler Children ’ s Hospital ( now Comer ), Cook County Hospital ( now Stroger ), Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago ( now Shirley Ryan Ability Lab ), and Evanston Hospital ( now North Shore ). She quickly worked her way up in rank from being a staff therapist to a pediatric supervisor and clinical coordinator .
Reflecting on this point in her career , Esther noted , “ my career path was to be a boss .” She worked hard to move from an entry-level therapist to department supervisor . Then , she had children . Esther recalled this point in her life as one of those challenging twists and turns . Navigating how to balance raising her beloved children and maintaining her career was not easy . However , she made it work . To best meet the needs in her personal and professional lives , Esther chose to keep practicing , just on a parttime basis . She remembers “ cold calling ” various schools and hospitals to keep her foot in the door . Esther knew that her kids would eventually grow up and that she would want to keep the job that she loved .
After some time , Esther ’ s children grew up , and she started to devote more time to her work as an occupational therapist . Working in pediatrics was always a passion of hers , and she noticed some gaps in her knowledge that she still wanted to fill . For that reason , Esther chose to go back to school to
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25 Illinois Occupational Therapy Association | 2021 ISSUE 1