Written by Chris Ibbetson

Sunday, 22 April 2007

Local occupational therapist Kathryn Smith, of Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust, has been selected as the winner of the prestigious Stannah Stairlifts/College of OT, Occupational Therapist of the Year Award 2007.

Out of the hundreds of entries that flooded in from across the country just six finalists were selected to attend the judging day on the 3rd April. All six went through a grueling interview with a panel of judges, led by consumer investigator and children’s rights campaigner, Esther Rantzen, but Kathryn’s achievements, drive and progressive ideas for the OT profession made her stand out as the clear winner.

Kathryn has used her knowledge and experience of occupational therapy to develop pioneering technology – primarily the Be SMaRT™ Cart. This ‘sensory room in a box’ was the idea that so impressed the judging panel and is a prime example of her drive to make occupational therapy a more valued profession – which is what the Stannah Stairlifts/College of OT Award is primarily all about . Kathryn’s work with the Be SMaRT™ Cart has proved to have huge potential and Kathryn’s passion to improve the lives of her patients is clear – hopefully the OT of the Year Award will help her to do this.