Shriners Children's Boston Celebrates Occupational Therapy Month

April is Occupational Therapy (OT) Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the vital role occupational therapists play in enhancing the health and wellness of their patients. At Shriners Children’s Boston, our dedicated OT team works tirelessly to empower children to achieve greater independence and improve their quality of life.

Occupational therapists at Shriners Children’s Boston work with children facing complex medical challenges, including burn injuries, reconstructive surgery and other conditions. Through innovative techniques, compassionate care and cutting-edge technology, our OT team helps children regain confidence in their abilities and reach milestones they once thought impossible. Whether it’s learning how to grasp a toy again, navigate daily routines or return to school activities, our therapists are there every step of the way.

The Role of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists at Shriners Children’s Boston focus on helping children develop, recover and improve the skills needed for daily living. They address physical, cognitive and sensory challenges, enabling our young patients to participate fully in school, social situations and other activities.

One of the unique aspects of working at Shriners Children’s Boston is the ability to follow pediatric patients through their rehabilitation journey. Unlike traditional settings, where an OT working in acute care or inpatient rehabilitation would eventually discharge a patient and refer them to an outpatient provider, the Shriners Children’s OT team can treat patients from the date of their initial injury until they age out of the program.

“My favorite part about being an OT at Shriners Children’s Boston is the versatility” said Jessica Bonfiglio, OTR/L. “We treat on the inpatient/acute unit, in the outpatient clinic, and in the operating room. This brings a lot of variety to our scope and allows us to follow our patients from acute admission to outpatient follow-ups. Because we can follow our patients through their progression of care, we can form strong connections with them and their families built on trust, empathy, collaboration and mutual respect over many months or years.”

This unique setup allows therapists to witness the resilience and growth of their patients firsthand. Jessica Willoughby, MOT, OTR/L, BT-C, noted, “My favorite part of working as an occupational therapist at Shriners Children’s Boston is the patients. I genuinely believe Shriners Children’s Boston has some of the best patients and families in the world. We get to witness our patients’ progress from what is often one of the worst days of their lives to achieving significant milestones in their recovery – whether that means making a sports team, returning to school or graduating from college. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of many of these milestones.”

All members of the rehabilitation therapy team at Shriners Children’s Boston are considered “burn therapists,” regardless of whether they specialize in occupational or physical therapy. “We treat every patient, regardless of where their injuries are located,” said Willoughby. “Each therapist brings a unique set of skills and knowledge, so we assign patients based on these strengths. This often results in OTs primarily handling upper body and hand injuries, while PTs focus on lower body injuries. We are a small but dedicated team, and we aim to follow the burn therapist model rather than separating our disciplines.”

Bonfiglio echoed this sentiment and said, “Whenever a burn injury crosses a joint, or an area of the body that moves, rehab will be consulted. OT/PT will also be consulted to treat hypertrophic or keloid scarring through conservative scar management. Since we are so specialized, OT and PT have a lot of overlap in treating burns. When a patient’s injuries are primarily on the lower extremities, PT typically takes the lead, while OT focuses more on upper extremities. That said, this is not a hard-and-fast rule, and we collaborate to ensure patients receive the best care possible.”

Courtney Updegrove, OTR/L, emphasized, “The main goal of the OT/PT team is for the patient to return to their previous level of function and independently participate in age-appropriate activities. Depending on their current challenges, therapists work together to ensure the patient receives the best care possible, whether that’s through PT or OT.”

Comprehensive OT Care at Shriners Children’s Boston

The Shriners Children’s Boston OT program integrates advanced therapeutic interventions, including custom splinting, scar management techniques and adaptive equipment to maximize each child’s functional outcomes. Our therapists also play a key role in educating families, ensuring that caregivers feel confident in supporting their child’s progress at home. Through a patient-centered approach, therapists create individualized treatment plans that empower children to reach their fullest potential.

Beyond individualized therapy sessions, our OT team is actively involved in research, education and outreach efforts. They collaborate with medical professionals worldwide to advance pediatric burn rehabilitation and share best practices. Whether training international clinicians, presenting at conferences or mentoring students, our therapists are committed to shaping the future of pediatric occupational therapy.

Meet Our OT Team

A closer look at three dedicated team members who help our patients thrive:

Jessica Willoughby, MOT, OTR/L, BT-C

Jessica has been an occupational therapist at Shriners Children’s Boston since 2020 and holds a Burn Therapist Certification (BT-C). She recently participated in an outreach trip to Costa Rica, where she trained local clinicians in burn care best practices, exemplifying our commitment to global healthcare improvement.

Jessica Bonfiglio, OTR/L

Jessica received both her Bachelor of Science and master’s in occupational therapy from the University of New Hampshire in 2022 and 2023. She originally completed her Level II fieldwork at Shriners Children’s Boston in 2023 before starting in her current role as a part-time OT in April 2024. It was during her fieldwork that she fell in love with burn care and the Shriners Children’s mission.

Courtney Updegrove, OTR/L

Courtney has been at Shriners Children’s Boston since 2010. She started as a student, then worked as a per-diem therapist while also practicing as an outpatient pediatric therapist. She returned to Shriners Children’s Boston full-time in 2014 and now serves as the clinical education coordinator. She has been involved in outreach clinics in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, has presented at local universities and is a member of multiple hospital committees.

A Lasting Impact

At Shriners Children’s Boston, occupational therapy is about more than recovery – it’s about helping children regain independence and confidence in their daily lives. Our therapists build lasting connections with patients and families, guiding them through challenges and celebrating every milestone along the way.

With expertise, compassion and dedication, they empower children to return to the activities they love, proving that with the right support, progress is always possible.