Posted on: 29 December 2023
Esther McDonnell, an Occupational Therapist from CNWL’s Neurological and Stroke service in Camden, has been profiled for British Medical Journal (BMJ) Health Careers.
In the profile, she answers questions about the highs and lows of her working life.
After moving to the UK in 2007, Esther worked as a locum in hospitals around London, then as a community-based HIV occupational therapist, before moving to a permanent post in HIV, oncology and palliative care.
In June 2021, she moved to CNWL to take up a post in the newly formed Camden Covid Recovery Service, supporting people to recover from long covid.
Esther originally wanted to be a physiotherapist, but stumbled into occupational therapy while she was studying.
“I worked in an institution with people with disabilities carrying out rehabilitation plans to prepare them for community-based living – helping them learn life skills such as making a cup of tea that they had never done before. Seeing people’s progress was inspiring and it made me decide that occupational therapy was the career for me.”
Esther also talks about her best career moves, and the best advice she’s received from a work colleague.