Health Worker Profile: Roque, Douglas-Sampson
[Part 4 of a series of Public Health workers for 2022 Public Health Week]
Caroline Roque, Pediatric Physiotherapist
Caroline Roque is a Pediatric Physiotherapist working for the Department of Health . She works within the Early Intervention team providing specialist services to children aged 0-4 years.
“I have worked in this position here in Bermuda for 12 years,” said Ms Roque. “This program is designed to maximise the functional potential for children with delays in normal development. I trained in the UK, gaining a Bachelor of Science Honors degree in Physiotherapy. My main duties and tasks involve assessing children with motor difficulties and providing ongoing individualised Physiotherapy treatment.”
Intervening early is crucial as a child’s developing brain is most flexible during the early years of life. For this reason, Ms Roque is extremely passionate about her work in helping children and their families enhance their child’s development and participate in life to their fullest potential.
Pashe Douglas-Sampson, Occupational Therapist
Pashe Douglas-Sampson has worked for the Department of Health for 12 years as an occupational therapist and six years with community rehabilitation services.
Community Rehabilitation Services provides Occupational Therapy [OT] intervention to the Bermuda public working with all age groups and in various physical and psychosocial areas. This service gives the community across the lifespan intervention such as, but not limited to, early intervention and community reintegration. The primary purpose of occupational therapy is to promote functional independence or as close to independence as possible.
Ms Douglas-Sampson explained: “Occupational therapy is a client-centred health profession that focuses on promoting well-being and health through one’s occupations. That is, engaging and encouraging people through participation in their activities in daily life. Essentially, occupational therapy assists anyone of any age in all areas of life.”
“As an occupational therapist, we provide paediatric community-based rehabilitation to school-age children. We work closely with child advocates, including parents and teachers, to ensure the development of skills required for their student role. As a community service, we may provide additional services to assist those outside the classroom by building on life skills.
“For Bermuda’s senior population, occupational therapists focus on regaining independence on skills that may have been lost or affected by illness or disability. Occupational therapists provide assessments and reports on challenges one may face and devise goals and a plan to reach independence.”
Ms Douglas-Sampson obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Science Studies, a Master of Occupational Therapy and her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, USA. She is also certified in Neuro-Developmental Treatment in Adults and is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist.
“Occupational therapy is a rewarding career and a valuable contribution to healthcare,” concluded Ms Douglas-Sampson. “You build lasting relationships and provide a sense of hope and motivation for those you work with. Although rehabilitation may move at varying speeds of recovery or improvement, typically, it is slow. When people reach or accomplish something they have never done or haven’t done in a very long time, it’s amazing to experience that with them.”
