MY OT Journey

Dianne Simons is an Assistant Professor at VCU currently serving as Assistant Chair for the Department of Occupational Therapy at VCU, a fellow with America Occupational Therapy Association, and helped to spearhead the collaboration between VCU, Art for the Journey, and a local senior assisted living residency in the Richmond area, to implement the Opening Minds through Art program.  

Dianne received a BA in Art from Virginia Tech, a Masters in OT from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Virginia. She has also been involved with numerous academic publications and grants and has been serving as the Representative from Virginia to the American Occupational Therapy Association Representative Assembly since 2011. She has also been serving as the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association Consultant to the Board since 2013 and sat on the board of the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association from 2011-2013.

Shanna Corbin, MS, OTR/L, CHT 

Madison Ochs, OTS (Salus University ’20)

Jessica Maguire, OTS (Salus University ’20)

Kimberly Plaspohl, OTS (University of Scranton ’20)

Rachel Wile, OTS (Temple University ’20)

Kerri Watkins, OTS (Temple University ’20)

Alexander Castro, OTS (Gwenydd Mercy University ’20)

Shanna Corbin received her Master of Occupational Therapy degree from Thomas Jefferson University. She then went on to become a certified hand therapist (CHT) and has been practicing in upper extremity rehabilitation for over 9 years. In addition to her appreciation for hands and upper extremity rehab, Shanna has always had a passion for ergonomic assessments and work-related injuries. When the COVID-19 pandemic arose, Shanna felt that there was no better time to get this telehealth company up and running to continue providing therapy services to those whom need it, in their home environment.

Interviewed by Joani Medero, OTS and Rachel Lalezarian, OTS

LIU-Brooklyn

Kristine Pilkington, OTR/L is an occupational therapist with over 30 years’ experience working with young children and families. She specializes in understanding how sensory processing and other developmental factors influence a child’s participation in everyday routines,activities and relationships. Kris is a nationally recognized speaker and writer in the field of early intervention. She developed and directed local programs including the Welcome Every Baby Newborn Home Visiting Program and Early Start programs. She participates on the California Interagency Coordinating Council on Early Intervention and is a consultant for WestEd Center for Prevention and Early intervention in Sacramento. She has a current private practice in occupational therapy in Santa Barbara and consults to early childhood organizations around California.

Kristine is the Co-Founder of Children Grow and has many years of experience working with young children and their families in Santa Barbara, providing in-home services for families of young children birth to age 10, parenting counseling and guidance, developmental check-ups for babies and children, specialized assessments (feeding, regulation, sensory processing, emotional development), practical strategies to enhance child development and success, information and resources on many infant and early childhood topics. Kristine is certified as a Newborn Behavioral Observation provider (Infants birth to 3 months) by the Brazelton Institute at UMASS Boston Infant-Parent Mental Health Program.

Interviewed by Esther Piekarski, OTS and Marina Milman, OTS

LIU-Brooklyn BS/MS OT Program

Emmy is an occupational therapist, integrative medicine practitioner, mystic and spiritual intuitive specializing in holistic/integrative health, wellness, and prevention. It is her joy, passion, and life purpose to assist individuals with natural and holistic healing while providing them with Intuitive guidance for answers and direction within.

Emmy earned a B.A. in occupational therapy & psychology, and is trained in medical qigong energy healing, meditation, relaxation, intuitive development and healing, guided imagery, massage therapy, acupressure, reflexology, myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, emotional freedom technique (EFT), emotional clearing/interactive mindfulness, and aromatherapy.

She is currently in private practice in St. Paul, MN. 

Emmy Vadnais Holistic Healing provides Holistic/Integrative Health, Wellness, and Prevention services and education that support people, health care practitioners, organizations, and communities to be inspired and live their best lives with meaning and purpose being more fulfilled, alive, joyful, and peaceful in Mind, Body, Spirit. Compassionately, scientifically researched Holistic/Integrative Health, Wellness, and Prevention approaches are utilized so individuals can relax, find their center, listen to their intuition and divine answers within, feel more connected, and transform stress, pain, and anxiety to peace, joy, and love. We will all be able to maintain health, recover from illness, and prevent illness. Advocating for cultural acceptance of Holistic/Integrative Health, Wellness, and Prevention is accomplished through sharing education, writing, research, and successful outcomes.

[email protected]

Melissa Tilton has been an OTA for 25 years and has a strong passion for supporting and empowering OTAs to engaged leaders in the world of OT. Melissa works as a multi-site director for Genesis Rehab and also teaches in an OTA program. Melissa enjoys volunteering, and currently services as Secretary on AOTA Board of Directors, past Board Director. Additionally, Melissa volunteered her time with ACOTE, including being Treasure; served on CCCPD; was an approved provider reviewer for AOTA. For state leadership, Melissa served as reimbursement rep, OTA rep, VP and two terms as state President. Melissa is currently enrolled in grad school, studying organizational leadership. She lives in Boston with her partner, Ben, and their 2 fur babies. 

Victor Michael Camacho, OTD, OTR/L, L.Ac. has been a practicing occupational therapist for over 25 years. Dr. Camacho received his B.S. in occupational therapy from Kean College in 1995. In 2004 he earned an M.S degree in Acupuncture from the Tri-state College of Acupuncture. Dr . Camacho maintains a national certification and N.J license to practice acupuncture. He earned his Post Professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) from Quinnipiac University in 2019. 

Dr. Camacho's practice area of interest and passion is adult rehabilitation with expertise in amputee rehabilitation. He has experience working in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and skilled nursing facilities. As a clinician, Dr. Camacho has worked closely with amputee survivors and their families to facilitate engagement and participation in valued and needed occupations within their desired environment.

Dr. Camacho began his academic career in 2006 as an Adjunct Professor at Kean University and consistently taught Theory II lab and Introduction to Occupational Therapy until 2019. He has experience teaching in a classroom and a virtual setting. 

In 2019, Dr. Camacho joined the Kean University Occupational Therapy Department as an Assistant Professor. He teaches Adult Physical Rehabilitation Practice Seminar, Applied Kinesiology for Occupational Therapy, Conditions Across Lifespan II, Community Partnerships, Theory Guidelines to Practice II (lab instructor), and Introduction to Occupational Therapy. 

Dr. Camacho’s research agenda is focused on addressing the physical and mental health of individuals experiencing limb loss. Self-management of pain, health literacy, and home modifications are among the areas of interest.

Host:

Molly Nadeau

Kean University 

Karen Rice, OT/L is the Creative Director of Arcadia Therapy Services, a pediatric home care company based out of Phoenix Arizona, and co-founder of Raising Hope Dogs, a not-for-profit that raises highly skilled working dogs to place with therapists around the country. Karen has a passion for all realms if our profession, and loves sharing her experiences with OT and COTA students alike. Feel free to connect with her at [email protected], or text her at 602-380-3377

Co-Hosts:

Carly Ahonen, OTS

Midwestern University

College of Health Sciences

Morgan Shackelford

OTA program at Cape Fear Community College 

Dr Stallings-Sahler has been in the field of Occupational Therapy for over 35 years as a pediatric clinician, educator, researcher, and business entrepreneur. She earned the Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Florida, the post-professional Master of Science in Pediatric Occupational Therapy from Boston University, and the Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Stallings-Sahler is the author of The Screening Assessment of Sensory Integration (SASI), which will begin pilot testing this Spring, and she is also a current professor at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

Co-Hosts:

Roazena Miller, OTS

Western New England University - Class of 2020

Brooke Johnson

Augusta University

Karen earned a doctoral degree at the University of Massachusetts in Educational Leadership in Schooling, a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at Boston University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Karen is the Associate Dean of Digital Learning and Innovation, a Clinical Professor of occupational therapy and the Program Director of the online post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy program at Boston University, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College. She has worked at Boston University for 36 years.

 Karen is a past president and vice president of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). She has received over 40 awards and honors including being a 2005 recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship to the University of Akureyri in Akuryeri, Iceland; the 2009 recipient of the Award of Merit from the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT); received the Award of Merit from AOTA in 2003; and the 2011 AOTA Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award. 

 Dr. Jacobs is the founding editor-in-chief of the international, interprofessional journal, WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment and Rehabilitation (IOS Press, The Netherlands).

In this episode Rebecca Smith and Deanna Longo interview Dr Fern Silverman and Dr. Andrea Tyszka on their work in community-based OT, specializing in universal design and sensory- friendly programming in Philadelphia, PA. 

Fern Silverman, EdD, OTR/L is a professor in Salus University's Occupational Therapy Department and serves as the assistant program director of their post professional OTD program. She previously held a faculty position at Temple University.  Dr. Silverman also has decades of experience as a pediatric OT, working with children from birth to 21 across a multitude of settings.   Her research interests include community participation for families and best practice for activities of daily living in pediatrics. 

Dr. Andrea Carr Tyszka, OTD, MS, OTR/L, SIPT, is an associate professor at Salus University. She has over 20 years of experience in pediatrics, working in schools, homes and communities. She conducts research and consults at various community-based settings, & has presented & published at both the state and national levels on accessibility and participation.