From runways to patient care: Occupational therapist helps rebuild confidence

Conner Becker-Chamberlin

Every year for more than a decade, a handwritten postcard arrives on Mamta Barmeda’s desk. The message is always different, but the meaning is the same. It comes from a former patient who was once told he might never write again. For Barmeda, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist, that postcard is a reminder of why her work matters and why Occupational Therapy Month is so meaningful to her.

Her approach to therapy is shaped not only by clinical expertise, but also by a unique part of her life. Outside of IU Health, Barmeda has spent years in modeling and pageantry, walking runways in New York, Paris, London and Milan. She holds multiple titles, including Mrs. Indiana Elite and Mrs. Universe USA Elite 2nd Runner Up. Those experiences taught her how to confront fear, build confidence and stay resilient under pressure. She brings those lessons into the therapy room. “I stepped into pageantry to face my own fears, and I see that same fear in my patients every day,” she says. “Through guidance, trust and consistency, I help them move past that fear and rebuild confidence, step by step.”

Barmeda specializes in hand to shoulder injuries and is certified in dry needling, helping pave the way for other occupational therapists to pursue the technique at IU Health. What guides her practice is the holistic approach at the core of occupational therapy. “A hand injury doesn’t just affect movement. It can impact someone’s ability to work, care for their family or enjoy hobbies,” she says. She adds that what motivates her most is “witnessing my patients regain not just function, but confidence and independence.”

For Barmeda, every patient interaction begins with a simple question: “What is important to you?” She believes that behind every injury is a person with goals, roles and routines that shape their daily life. “These are not just tasks. They are pieces of identity, dignity and independence,” she says.

She also recognizes that recovery is both physical and emotional. “Patients walk in carrying emotional weight. Fear, frustration, uncertainty. And in those moments, empathy becomes just as important as any treatment plan.” Her belief that “the hands are the eyes of the body” influences how she helps patients rebuild trust in their abilities.

The postcard that arrives each year is a symbol of that journey. The patient who once struggled to form even the smallest movements regained his ability to write through focused therapy and determination. “It is more than a postcard,” Barmeda says. “It is a reminder that healing is not just physical. It is emotional.”

She hopes more people understand that occupational therapy is ultimately about possibility. “If something cannot be done the same way as before, we find new ways to make it possible,” she says. “At its core, occupational therapy is about restoring both ability and confidence and empowering people to fully engage in the life that matters most to them.”

Learn more about Occupational Therapy at IU Health.