Razan Hamed, PhD, OTR/L: OT using Virtual Reality in OT Education
In this post, we will learn from Dr. Razan Hamed, PhD, OTR/L. Dr. Hamed is an occupational therapist who uses Virtual Reality in OT Education. Dr. Hamed is an associate professor and associate director of the Columbia University programs in occupational therapy at Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons. She is also the director of the research curriculum for the entry-level MOT program and the mentor of a number of OT Doctorate students. She has been recently elected to the AOTA board of directors, is the founder of the Arab American Occupational Therapy Group, and is a member of the World Federation for Occupational Therapists. She has been a member of the AOTA DEI task force 2020-2021 and an AOTA DEI committee member 2021-2023. She is also the faculty advisor of the Columbia University OT COTAD chapter (Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity). Her interests are in advocacy for DEI issues in OT education and practice and has published a number of articles on cultural humility and culturally responsive care. Dr. Hamed has been an invited guest speaker to numerous academic institutions to address bias, microaggressions, and cultural humility for OT students and educators.
Q & A with Razan:
Please tell us a little about yourself and some of your favorite occupations.
Being a mother and a teacher are my favorite occupations but hiking and kickboxing is where I find my most peace and grounding. hiking is my safe and calm space where I can be myself without titles, labels, or responsibilities.
What motivated you to contribute to this podcast series?
I enjoyed listening to this podcast for a while. I think it is thought-provoking and urges us to think innovatively about our practice. I enjoy Patricia's style as a host, so it is a great way for me to know about what others are creatively doing in the field. I value podcasts because I think we enjoy listening to new ideas in this format. They are convenient to follow and use and remain an attractive option for learners and educators.
Please describe the UncommonOT work that you do and the setting in which you work, the population you serve, and the needs that you address.
I use virtual reality to teach concepts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This innovative technology tool is generation-friendly, engaging, and interesting especially when talking and learning about intricate and sensitive topics such as bias, discrimination, and microaggression. I find the traditional way of talking about these social issues is no longer working as some people may find engaging in an open discussion uncomfortable or sometimes difficult.
What inspired you or drew you to this type of OT work?
I use virtual reality to teach concepts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This innovative technology tool is generation-friendly, engaging, and interesting especially when talking and learning about intricate and sensitive topics such as bias, discrimination, and microaggression. I find the traditional way of talking about these social issues is no longer working as some people may find engaging in an open discussion uncomfortable or sometimes difficult. I find virtual reality to be a judgment-free space where students can witness educational scenarios about bias, reflect, and think about effective actions without the need to report or discuss that with others on the spot. Students can always discuss their reactions and feelings about the scenarios provided by this technology if they feel comfortable with it and only when they are ready.
How did you get there? Can you describe your path?
I found the traditional ways of teaching concepts such as bias and empathy in our profession to be outdated. We are dealing with a very well-informed group of students who have plentiful access to resources including readings, videos, and workshops. I needed to find a way to engage students in these conversations without making them feel just like another class they sit through. Finding the right technology was worth it in creating an innovative learning space for my course.
Can you talk about some recent highs (successes) and lows (challenges) of your current role?
A success is definitely the completion of the first round of the course using this technology Students were engaged and reported using VR as a great tool to facilitate their learning. One of the challenges was learning the technology in the first two classes where we needed to train the students on navigating the software and the hardware. Additionally, the emotional toll on witnesses of these bias-tainted scenarios was triggering for some students. We needed to find ways to decompress and breakdown the complex feelings that can come with bias and microaggressions.
How do you continue to learn to stay on top of things within your role?
Reading and connecting to experts in the field
Any career advice for our followers and listeners on how to get started on this path?
Don't reinvent the wheel, reach out to people who have gone through the hassle and collaborate.
What’s a common myth or misconception about your job/role you’d like to call out or demystify?
That teaching is easy for experienced academicians. Every time we teach a course there are new challenges and new stories.
How do we find you, follow you, be in touch with you and promote your unique work?
People can reach out to me by email at rh2955@columbia.edu. They can also visit my website at dr.razanhamed.com. or follow me at my social media pages such as Instagram @dr.razan_hamed
We are currently trying this VR project again with a new software called Body Swap, so we are expanding the project.
I am presenting on VR and bias at the AOTA Education Summit in November. Stop by if you're interested to learn more.
I am also presenting on cultural humility in OT education at the AOTA Ed Summit in November.
Articles on cultural humility:
An upcoming article in OT Practice's November issue called Diversity of Grief: How Culture Affects Coping with Loss (stay on the lookout)
The Invisible Diversity of Arab Identity: Implications for OT https://www.aota.org/publications/ot-practice/ot-practice-issues/2023/dei-the-invisible-diversity-of-arab-identity#:~:text=Arabs%20come%20from%20more%20than,extremely%2C%20but%20invisibly%2C%20diverse.
As always, I welcome any feedback & ideas from all of you or if you are interested in being a guest on future episodes, please do not hesitate to contact Patricia Motus at transitionsot@gmail.com or DM via Instagram @transitionsot
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