China Initiative Presents at COTA Conference
May 30, 2026
Dr. Elena Meng presented at the China Occupational Therapy Association’s Annual Conference in Beijing and met with PKUHSC instructors and a dual-degree graduate.
Dr. Elena Meng was invited to present in the plenary session of the China Occupational Therapy Association (COTA)’s annual conference in Beijing by the President of COTA, Prof. Kuicheng Li. Earlier this year, Prof. Li came to California to attend the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Annual Conference in Anaheim and the China Initiative 10-Year Celebration in Los Angeles. This conference was Dr. Meng’s fourth occupational therapy conference this year, following the World Federation of Occupational Therapists’ Congress in Bangkok, Thailand; the AOTA Inspire Conference in Anaheim; and the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists’ Centennial Conference in Montreal, Canada.
After landing at 5:30 a.m. the morning of her presentation, Dr. Meng prepared to present on “Fostering Student Clinical Reasoning Through Assignment Design: Two Samples from the Pediatric Practice Immersion Course”. The presentation was well received with the session moderator, Aiqun He, Director of Occupational Therapy Department of the Guangdong Work Injury Rehabilitation Hospital, approaching Dr. Meng after the session, sharing how she enjoyed the presentation. She said she does a lot of mentoring in her clinical work, but has never looked at the clinical reasoning process in such a detailed way. Even though the presentation was in English and difficult to follow, the moderator stated having paid really close attention in order to be able to use the information in practice. Dr. Meng was highly touched by the numerous dual-degree graduates and instructors who joined online to cheer upon her presentation.
Dr. Meng’s plenary presentation at the COTA conference
In the evening, COTA organized a talent show, a first in its history, where numerous OT students and practitioners engaged in performances and games. Talents included singing, dancing, instrument playing, martial arts, and skits, and they were all performed by current OT students across the country! For games, there were musical chairs and charades. Pairs had to guess OT terms such as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA). What a night to inspire! We all witnessed what we preach - the power of occupations in making our lives more meaningful.
Official photo of Dr. Meng from COTA conference organizers
Before leaving Beijing, Dr. Meng gathered with PKUHSC instructors and a dual-degree graduate to catch up and share updates. Everyone was highly encouraged by the recent discussions that took place following the China Initiative 10-Year Celebration and is looking forward to the next stage of collaboration between the two institutions.
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