Occupational Therapy Student of the Year studies at KI
We congratulate Botilda Guthenberg, who has been named Occupational Therapy Student of the Year 2026 by the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists! She receives the award for, among other things, showing great commitment to both patients and the development of the profession.
How did you react to the news?
”When I found out that I had been nominated, I was very surprised at first! Especially when I learned that the nomination came from an occupational therapist I had never met. I then realised that my work had reached further than I could have hoped”, says Botilda Guthenberg Skillinghaug, a student on KI’s occupational therapy programme at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society.
”When I found out that I had been selected, I was of course very happy! I feel incredibly proud and happy to be becoming part of a profession that cares. One that believes my work on ME/CFS is important and wants to highlight it. It feels especially meaningful when I know how many patients describe their treatment by healthcare services as so dismissive”.
What does the award mean to you?
”For me, the award means that I feel even more confident in my choice of profession. I feel proud to become an occupational therapist and thereby be part of a profession that pays attention when someone identifies a gap in knowledge. A profession that actively works for equitable care”.
Where do you get your drive and commitment from?
”A lot of it comes from my mother. She has always been someone with extreme creativity, commitment and drive. She has shaped me into the person I am today. The fact that she then became severely chronically ill and was also treated unreasonably by the healthcare system has driven me, and in a way it was the only obvious thing to do. Because the way care and treatment of patients with ME/CFS look today is not an option”.
What makes you particularly passionate about the ME/CFS patient group?
”As I mentioned above, it is because my mother became severely ill with ME/CFS a few years ago. Her treatment by healthcare services has been completely unacceptable, with daily dismissal and lack of knowledge. Since then, I have spoken with many other patients who describe the same experience”.
”This is also a patient group living with extreme fatigue and pain, who do not have the energy or ability to constantly fight for their rights. Since the coronavirus pandemic, the number of patients with ME and post-COVID has increased, and we have no specialist clinics to care for these patients. It is also important to point out that more and more research on ME/CFS has begun to emerge, and healthcare professionals can no longer hide behind not knowing anything”.
What made you initially choose to study occupational therapy?
”I have always wanted to work with helping people. When I worked in adapted compulsory school, occupational therapy caught my attention. This, combined with my mother seeing occupational therapists both at the Bragée Clinic (which has now closed) and in primary care. I think we are a profession with an incredibly positive way of viewing people. A holistic perspective based on what the patient considers important. I have not regretted my choice for a single second”.
Citation – Occupational Therapy Student of the Year
By identifying a gap in knowledge that needed to be addressed in the occupational therapy programme and actively working for change, Botilda Guthenberg Skillinghaug, Karolinska Institutet has shown great commitment to both patients and the development of the profession. With strong determination and initiative, and a focus on evidence-based occupational therapy, she has shared knowledge about ME/CFS through lectures, information materials, collaboration with patient organisations and dialogue with programme leaders.
Her efforts have highlighted the unique importance of occupational therapy for people with ME/CFS, particularly in relation to occupational balance, energy management and participation in everyday life. By emphasising the patient perspective and the importance of appropriate interventions, Botilda has contributed to greater understanding, strengthened the profession’s knowledge development and inspired both students and future colleagues.
For her commitment, drive and contribution to a more knowledge-based and person-centred occupational therapy practice, Botilda is awarded the title of Occupational Therapy Student of the Year.
ME/CFS (myalgisk encefalomyelit/chronic fatigue syndrome)
Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also called chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS, is a long-term condition that can affect different parts of the body. The most common symptom is extreme tiredness. The cause of ME/CFS is unknown.
ME/CFS can affect anyone, including children.
While there's currently no cure for ME/CFS, there are treatments that may help you manage the condition and relieve the symptoms.