The chance to combine her creativity and love of science simplified the decision to become an occupational therapist for Teresa Foy, OTR/L, spinal cord therapy manager at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.

"We have to try to adapt a way for people to do things," she said. "Sometimes we mix our knowledge with creativity."

A pencil, for example, can become a powerful tool for a patient who enjoys music but is challenged when using an iPod or CD player.

"We can teach people to use an eraser head to push the button or put a hook on the end of a pencil to help them remove a CD," Foy said. "We all have our ways of helping our patients. I call it the therapeutic use of self."

Foy explained that occupational therapists often use their own personalities, senses of humor, peer support and even other patients to help motivate those with spinal cord injuries.

"Everyone has different tricks in their bags," she said. "This is a very dynamic job."

Foy almost didn't apply to work at Shepherd. Although she had 17 years of experience in occupational therapy, she was concerned about her lack of practical work with spinal cord injuries.

"Shepherd is very good about training new people," she said. "They have a week of lectures, then two weeks of lectures and practical work, then they have mentors with them along the way. We're geared up to help teach and mentor them.

"It's very rare when we find someone with a lot of spinal cord experience."

A spinal cord unit is vastly different from most occupational therapy settings.

"I only saw a dozen or so spinal cord cases in my 17 years before coming here," Foy said, "because these cases generally go to the specialized facilities, like Shepherd."

Foy manages a staff of seven occupational therapists and several therapy technicians.

She said that the starting pay for an occupational therapist is about $23 per hour. Shepherd employs more than 70 occupational, physical and speech therapists.

"Neat things happen here every day," Foy said. "We help people get back to doing those things most of us take for granted, like feeding ourselves, brushing our teeth and cooking. It's true that sometimes we have to push patients, but it's so rewarding when they come back in six months and thank us."