Hear From Chris Sorrells, Senior Director of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, Pima Medical Institute
On this episode of the Voices of Vital Care podcast, host Nohelani Graf sits down with Chris Sorrells, Senior Director of the Occupational Therapy Assistant associate degree program at Pima Medical Institute’s Denver campus, to talk about a career built on helping people live fuller, more independent lives.
Sorrells brings a rare mix of perspectives to the conversation. He has worked hands-on with clients recovering from strokes and injuries, taught the next generation of occupational therapy assistants and published on topics like workplace ergonomics. In case you are unfamiliar with workplace ergonomics, it means rather than just treating an injury after it happens, these practitioners work proactively by training workers, adjusting equipment and setting up workspaces to prevent injuries in the first place. If you have ever wondered what this career actually looks like day to day, or whether it might be the right fit for you, this episode is a great place to start. To explain how occupational therapy differs from physical therapy, Sorrells starts with the term at the center of it all.
“An occupation is anything you do that has meaning to you.”
-Chris Sorrells, Senior Director of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, Pima Medical Institute
He describes this work as being great for a creative problem solver: sometimes that means helping someone rebuild strength and coordination, and sometimes it means finding an entirely new way to do something when the old way isn’t coming back. Either path starts with the same question: What does this person need to get back to the life they had, or help them build the one they have now? Something as ordinary as crossing the street is no longer an easy task for someone who has had a stroke. What appears to be a straightforward action may require rebuilding the physical strength needed to reach up and activate a crosswalk signal, relearning the visual perceptual skills to distinguish a walk sign from a don’t walk sign and developing the cognitive awareness to recognize a revving engine as an indication to stop. When considered alongside the full range of abilities a stroke can affect, from preparing a meal to getting dressed, the true scope of occupational therapy becomes apparent.
Sorrells is candid that occupational therapy has its roots in psychology and that showing up with compassion and empathy, what he calls “therapeutic use of self,” often matters as much as the clinical technique. Clients are usually meeting an occupational therapy assistant at one of the hardest points in their life while relearning something they once took for granted. Helping people through challenging moments in their lives is what he says makes the work feel less like a job and more like a calling.
“It’s almost a philosophy and a way of life rather than just a profession.”
-Chris Sorrells, Senior Director of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, Pima Medical Institute
In this episode, you will learn:
- The difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy, even when the two may look similar from the outside
- What “occupation” means in occupational therapy, from work and caregiving to hobbies and self-care
- Why compassion and empathy, not just clinical skill, drive strong outcomes for clients
- The many settings open to occupational therapy assistants, from pediatrics to ergonomics consulting
- How assistive technology and telehealth are expanding access to occupational therapy in rural and underserved areas
- Why more than half of Pima Medical Institute students change their intended specialty after gaining hands-on experience through clinical externships
- The personal traits that tend to make someone well suited for this career
- Why people of nearly any age, from recent high school graduates to career changers in their 60s, find success in occupational therapy
Who this episode is for: Anyone weighing a hands-on health care career, whether you are exploring your first path after high school or considering a change later in life.
The opinions expressed in the podcasts are not those of Pima Medical Institute.
Beyond the Episode
Demand for occupational therapy assistants continues to grow as the population ages and more people need support recovering from strokes, injuries and chronic conditions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupational therapy assistants earned a median annual wage of $66,050 as of May 2024, and employment in the field is projected to grow 18 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.*
Beyond the numbers, Sorrells pointed to something else that draws people to this career: the range of paths it opens. From pediatric therapy to ergonomics consulting to running an independent practice, occupational therapy assistants can shift specialties, settings and even geography without starting over. For many, that flexibility is exactly why they stay in this field for decades.
Ready to learn more? Learn how to apply or reach out to the Pima Medical Institute admissions team to find out if the Occupational Therapy Assistant associate degree program is the right fit for you.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapy-assistants-and-aides.htm (visited July 07, 2026).
