Occupational Therapy Month Staff Spotlight
Meet Freddy Bolchalk
OTR/L at Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital

How long have you been at Hillside in this role?  
I’ve been in this role for 20 years.

Where did you attend school?  
I attended Michigan (Baker)

What inspired you to get into this field? 
I chose Occupational Therapy because it is a holistic profession that allows one flexibility and autonomy to change people’s lives. No two days are ever the same. The satisfaction you get from helping people reclaim their life and find purpose is the best feeling!

What are some of your responsibilities in this position?
I specialize in teaching new strategies, techniques and adaptions for people going through physical, mental, and emotional trauma to maximize function and facilitate a sense of purpose to improve the quality of their life.

What are some highlights from your career?
Being invited to a former patient’s wedding to watch her walk down the aisle after receiving bilateral knee replacements. I’ve also received phone calls, cards, and letters from former patient’s telling me about doing things on their bucket lists that they never thought was possible.

What do you like to do for fun?
Spoil my wife and children rotten!

What’s something people don’t know about you?
I have a Black Belt in Karate.

What do you like most about working as an OT Hillside? 
We get results!