Therapy Entrepreneurs and Leaders of Color

Dr. Tomeico Faison Monologue Update

Dr. Tomeico Faison, the Wealthy Woman, is a woman of God, wife, mom serial entrepreneur, author, professor, speaker, and real estate investor.  She is the CEO of Therapeutic Solutions (therapeuticsolutionsofnc.com), CEO of Low Vision Rehab Solutions (and co-owner) (lowvisionrehabsolutions.com), and Faison Consulting (faisonconsulting.com). She is the founder of the podcast, Therapy Entrepreneurs and Leaders of Color and now shares hosting with Dr. Douglene Jackson who interviews her on this episode. Dr. Faison is the author of the Amazon #1 best seller-Occupational Therapy: Ten Simple Steps to Independent Contracting. She is also a faculty member in the new Duke OTD program, focusing on the recruitment and retention of students from underrepresented groups and specialty certificates (entrepreneurship and low vision). She has a master's (UNC-CH) and doctoral degree (BU) in Occupational Therapy and certificates in low vision rehab and business coaching. Her mission is to help one million entrepreneurs and leaders by partnering with therapists, organizations, and institutions to increase therapy business ownership and innovative therapy programs globally. Knowing the challenges associated with growing up in poverty and being a Black female health professional, Dr. Tomeico Faison infuses poetry into dynamic storytelling to inspire underrepresented women to live a life of wealth and abundance through entrepreneurial endeavors.

 

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Jarrett Dottin Podcast Interview

Jarrett Dottin (JD), OTR/L, MOT, CLT, specializes in treating clients with lymphedema and providing wound care in the Greater Tampa Bay Area. He is a certified lymphedema therapist and wound care therapist (CLWT), certified for head and neck lymphedema management, and is a certified compression fitting specialist (CCS) that utilizes LIR and Dr. Vodder style methods. He is a certified dementia practitioner and uses the Skills2Care to improve the well-being and skills of caregivers, slows the decline in the daily functioning of persons with dementia, and reduces challenging behaviors that can trigger nursing home placement. He has developed and led dementia training/mapping and restraint reduction, in addition to wheelchair positioning and contracture management programs at skilled facilities in Maine, Massachusetts, and Florida. Additionally, he has consulted with homecare agencies and physicians for the management of pain, neuropathy, and musculoskeletal dysfunction with microcurrent point stimulation (MPS).
Jarrett is the owner of JD The OT Therapy Services, a mobile occupational, physical, and speech therapy practice that manages clients with a variety of conditions including lymphedema, orthopedic injuries, cognitive declines, neurologic conditions, pain, wounds/scar management, and home modifications. The practice allows for outpatient services within a client’s home to assess, adapt, or modify issues that may impact a client’s life. He believes that therapy services should be available to those that need them, with the understanding that leaving the home for treatment may not be realistic.
Licensure/Certification:
● Registered Occupational Therapist -FL #OT15204
● National Board-Certified Occupational Therapist (NBCOT)
● Certified Lymphedema and Wound Care Therapist
● Certified LSVT Practitioner
● Head and Neck Lymphedema Management
● Microcurrent Point Stimulation Practitioner
● Certified Dementia Practitioner
● Skills2Care Practitioner
Clinical Experience:
● Assesses, plans, and implements occupational therapy care for diverse patient populations including those in inpatient settings, outpatient settings, home health care, and outpatient private practice setting. Patient conditions include but are not limited to orthopedics, neurologic, lymphedema of the extremities/head neck/trunk, and acute and chronic wound care.
● Documentation of patient care activities such as evaluations, progress notes, re-evaluations, and discharge summaries in adherence with Medicare and institution standards.
● Prepares and submits letters of medical necessity regarding lymphedema treatments, power wheelchairs, compression garments, and compression pumps to ensure coverage by insurance companies, and participates in formal appeals on behalf of patients regarding DME supplies.
● Collaborates with doctors, nurses, case managers, social workers, PT/OT/ speech therapists, and administrators utilizing a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
● Clinical settings: acute care, hand therapy outpatient, private practice OT, home health, and lymphedema therapy.
● Ensures clinics meet standards for annual certifications as a Medicare-certified rehabilitation agency.
● Owner/operator of an occupational and lymphedema therapy clinic.
● Provides continuing education presentations to health care providers.
● Develops and assists with educational programs related to services offered by outpatient clinics for physicians, outside facilities, and the public.
● Lead OT at inpatient centers managing clinician’s patient schedules, therapy visit utilization, client case conferences, and development of facility client care programs.
● Orients new therapy staff including occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and occupational therapy students to their responsibilities.
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Teaching/Lecture Experience:
● Presenter for the education of occupational, physical and speech therapists regarding lymphedema management at the Next Level Geriatric Summit March 2023
● Co-presenter for the education of therapists regarding mobile lymphedema management at the Virtual Geriatric Summit, March 2022
● Educated Home Care Agencies and Physicians regarding the clinical benefits of microcurrent point stimulation and lymphedema management, 2016 - 2023
● American Occupational Therapy Association Co-presenter: Effect of Nintendo® Wii Fit™ Training on Balance and Community Mobility of Clients with Central Nervous System Dysfunction (CNS), 2011

 

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Dr. Zipporah Brown Podcast Interview

Dr. Zipporah Brown, OTD, MS, OTR/L, DipACLM is a licensed occupational therapist, academician, and trailblazer committed to increasing access to education and healthcare. Dr. Brown has a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from California State University of Dominguez Hills, a Master’s of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy from West Coast University-Center for Graduate Studies, and a Post-Professional Doctoral Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California in which she co-founded the first student run diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) association within the division. As a health and wellness practitioner, Dr. Brown specializes in lifestyle and health management interventions and is a Board-Certified Diplomate of Lifestyle Medicine, one of two in the entire state of Oregon. Her eagerness to increase access to equitable healthcare stems from witnessing far too many loved ones grapple with the impact of inadequately addressed health conditions. 

Dr. Brown's work has focused extensively on establishing occupational therapy’s distinct role in emerging practice settings with an emphasis on improving access through the development and implementation of occupational therapy programs. Within her doctoral training at the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Faculty Practice and Homes for Life Foundation, she specialized in health promotion through lifestyle optimization, occupational engagement, and community integration for underserved populations. As an inaugural Community Based Fieldwork Instructor she developed occupational therapy programs in un(der)served communities; increasing access to services as well as providing students with transformative opportunities to apply theoretical and practical knowledge. Sequentially, as an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, she worked at the height of the pandemic to collaboratively curate unique fieldwork opportunities for students in preparation for entry-level practice. Most recently, Dr. Brown became the inaugural occupational therapist at Linn County Department of Mental Health in Albany, Oregon. There her emerging role focuses on health promotion and disease management for individuals living with persistent mental illness. 

Dr. Brown’s current role in academia primarily focuses on developing and implementing lifestyle medicine competencies within multidisciplinary curriculums. Notably, she initiated the integration of lifestyle medicine competencies into the Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum at Western University of Health Sciences and went on to spearhead a partnership with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine to become the first DPT program approved for the ACLM Partial Academic Pathway program. Concurrently, she collaborates with faculty and community partners to develop meaningful community service and outreach projects in rural and underserved communities. 

As a budding leader in the occupational therapy profession, she has served in various leadership roles within the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC). Namely, a member of the OTAC Leadership subcommittee of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Ad Hoc Committee, in which she contributed to the development of a proposal for the addition of a Chief of DEI position; and as a Co-Chair of the OTAC Student Leadership Committee in which she amplified the voices of student leaders through creating safe spaces. She most recently contributed to the development of a Community of Practice Group for the American Occupational Therapy Association in which she facilitates national discussions focused on establishing best practices and specific tools to enhance occupational therapy’s role in health promotion.

Dr. Brown has presented research addressing psychosocial considerations for women living in permanent supportive housing; strategies to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in health professional programs; and the integration of lifestyle medicine competencies into allied health professional programs at state, national and international conferences. 

Ultimately, she uses her formal training and lived experience to increase access to transformative person and community-centered healing practices.

 

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Natalie Chang Wright Podcast Interview

Natalie Chang Wright, is a dedicated leader with over three decades of experience in occupational therapy, showcasing proven expertise in leadership and strategic management. Holding an MBA in Healthcare Management and being a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant/Leader (COTA/L), she has been honored with several military ribbons and awards and with AOTA's highest awards, including the Roster of Honor and OTA Award of Excellence.

Throughout her career, she has excelled in initiating and developing diverse programs, ensuring compliance, and championing equity and inclusion values. With roles such as Clinician, OTA Program Director/Chair, Team Leader, and Clinical Director of Operations, she has demonstrated proficiency in program development, leadership, and collaboration with healthcare and educational institutions.

With a diverse skill set encompassing leadership, strategic management, program development, compliance, and accreditation, she holds certificates related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and health coaching, and she is also involved in volunteer work. Natalie’s commitment extends beyond her professional roles, as evidenced by her leadership appointments in organizations like the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, where she currently serves as the chairman for the DEI Committee and the Advocate for Social Justice Committee (respectively). Engaged in advocacy and mission alignment, Natalie actively contributes to various initiatives and joyfully serves communities where she engages in work, rest, and play.

Over her 30+ year career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, Natalie embraced leadership as more than just a title—rather, it's an action rooted in service, confidence, and empowering collective spirit. Natalie’s leadership philosophy aligns with servant leadership, prioritizing service to create an environment where teams thrive. In occupational therapy, leadership involves influencing positive change through advocacy, policy development, program creation, education, and research. Great leaders embody mentorship, integrity, and a commitment to continuous growth for themselves and others. Ultimately, leadership is about service and making a meaningful impact beyond holding a position of authority.

 

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Dr. Vikram Pagpatan PodcastInterview

Vikram Pagpatan, EdD, OTR/L, BCP, CLA, ATP, FAOTA, Assistant Professor Admissions Coordinator Occupational Therapy Program and AOTA President Elect Candidate. Education

• Walden University- Doctor of Education (EdD), Specialization in Educational Technology
• York College City University of New York- Masters in Occupational Therapy (MSOT)
• LaGuardia Community College- Emergency Medical Services Education

Advanced Certifications 

• Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA)- Assistive Technology Professional (ATP)
• American Occupational Therapy Association-Board Certification in Pediatrics (BCP)
• International Board of Credentialing & Continuing Education Standards- Certified Autism Specialist (CAS)
• International Board of Credentialing & Continuing Education Standards- Board Certified Telepractice Specialist (BCTS)
• International Board of Credentialing & Continuing Education Standards- Board Certified Cognitive Specialist (BCCS) 
• American Occupational Therapy Association- Certified Leader in Academia Certification (CLA) 

Personal Statement

Dr. Pagpatan (he/him) is a licensed and registered NYS occupational therapist and a graduate of York College CUNY . His clinical expertise includes the assessment and treatment of neuromotor pediatric conditions, congenital pediatric conditions, progressive neurological adult diagnoses, and the application of rehabilitative assistive technologies for individuals across the lifespan.  

As a dedicated educator and researcher, Dr. Pagpatan pursues his passion for education through instructing the Theory & Practice: School Aged Pediatrics, Foundations I and the Assistive Technology course within the core curriculum at SUNY Downstate, serves as a Master’s Research Project advisor and contributes annually to the NBCOT board examination prep course at Downstate.

Notable Speaking Engagements

• Nova Southeastern University- Occupational Therapy Program & South Florida Black Occupational Therapy Caucus- NBCOT OTR Examination Prep Course 2023 
• American Dental Education Association Summit- President's Symposium on Men of Color in The Health Professions-2022- Invited Speaker for AOTA 
• Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC)- Occupational Analysis of Sikhism- Implications Towards Culturally Sensitive Occupational Therapy Practice (2022) 
• Delaware Occupational Therapy Association- Invited Speaker- E-Professionalism Within Occupational Therapy Education
• University of the Pacific-Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy- Speaking Engagement-Occupational Therapy Best Practices for South Asian Communities (2023)
• American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) New York Chapter- Student Interest Group Annual Conference 2023- Nazareth College- Adaptive Technologies in Rehab

Regional/National Presentations & Publications 

• SUNY Faculty Development Conference: Teaching & Learning For Student Success Virtual Conference- Proposing E-Professionalism Standards for Online Teaching During the COVID-19 Pandemic- Virtual Presentation
• SUNY Faculty Development Conference: Teaching & Learning For Student Success Virtual Conference- Utilization of Online Critical Thinking Skill Assessment Tools to Enhance Admissions Standards- Poster Presentation
• SUNY Faculty Development Conference: Teaching & Learning For Student Success Virtual Conference-  Utilization of Online Information Sessions to Enhance Program Outreach, Marketing and Data Collection Efforts for Prospective Candidates 
• Assistive Technology Industry Association 2021 Virtual Conference- Remote Learning: Optimizing Video Conference Tools Within Higher Education- Virtual Presentation 
• New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA)- 2020 Annual Conference- Poster Presentation: A Pilot Study to Identify Demographic Factors Affecting Occupational Therapists’ Willingness to Address Sexuality as an ADL 
• New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA)- 2020 Annual Conference-Virtual Session-Addressing Racial, Social & Health Disparities Through A Student Association Led Collaborative Movement: SOTA/COTAD at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University 
• SUNY Fall 2020 Wizard Conference- Virtual Presentation- Simulating an Online Volunteering Experience For Higher Education Admissions: Utilizing a Learning Management System Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
• SUNY Conference on Instruction & Technology- CIT 2021- Virtual Presentation, Assessment of Social Media Competency Amongst College Students & Implications Towards Supplemental Teaching Platforms for Educators
• SUNY Conference on Instruction & Technology- CIT 2021- Virtual Presentation, The Implementation of Open Access Online Volunteering Modules: Addressing Flexible Admissions Requirements for Healthcare Professions from a SUNY Admissions Perspective
• SUNY Conference on Instruction & Technology- CIT 2021- Virtual Presentation, Utilization of e-professionalism standards for distance education- lessons from the covid-19 pandemic  
• Cornell University- eCornell NYS Citizen Public Health Training Program- Keynote Session, May 2021- Adapting During A Pandemic: Removing Barriers for Individuals with Disabilities
• SUNY SPECTRUM Virtual Conference, June 2021- Facilitating an Inclusive and Equitable Form of Higher Education: A Pedagogical Approach to Holistic Healthcare Education 
• American Occupational Therapy Association Education Summit 2021- Simulated Occupational Therapy Volunteering Experience: A Digitized Approach to A Program Admissions Standard
• American Occupational Therapy Association Education Summit 2021- The Exploration of an Equitable Form of Occupational Therapy Academic Admissions: A Measure in the Diversification of the Profession
• American Occupational Therapy Association Children & Youth Specialty Conference 2021- Assessment of Social Media Competency Amongst School-Aged Children: Implications for Occupational Therapy Pediatric Practice
• New York State Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference 2021- Social Media Competency and Occupational Therapy Practitioners: Are We Sharing Too Much?
• New York State Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference 2021- The Role of Occupational Therapy Students Addressing Mental Health Needs Through a Student-Run Free Clinic Model: A SUNY Downstate Perspective
• Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Annual Conference 2022- Addressing Equity, Inclusion, and Sensitivity Within Pediatric Tele-therapy
• Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Annual Conference 2022- Enabling Communication & Independence-Application of AAC to Multiple Sclerosis
• Deleware Occupational Therapy Association (DOTA) Virtual Presentation (2022) (Invited Speaker)- Social Media Competency in Occupational Therapy: Are We Sharing Too Much? 
• SUNY 30th Annual Conference on Instruction & Technology (CIT 2022)- Virtual Conference- Social Media Competency Amongst College Students: Implications for Healthcare Education
• American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Education Summit 2022- Leveraging Social Media Technologies into Innovative Forms of Pedagogy: Implications Towards Contemporary Occupational Therapy Education
• New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA) Annual Conference 2022- Working with Sikh Communities: Inequities and Missed Opportunities Within Culturally Sensitive Occupational Therapy Practice 
• American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Education Summit 2022- Leveraging Social Media Technologies into Innovative Forms of Pedagogy: Implications Towards Contemporary Occupational Therapy Education 
• Textbook: The Texture of Life: Occupations & Related Activities 5th edition- Chapter 7 Co-Author- AOTA Press (2023)
• Textbook: Contemporary Case Studies in Occupational Therapy Practice: Guiding Critical Thinking for Students, 1st edition- Editor & Chapter Author- AOTA Press (2023)
• 2023 CUNY Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (C-IDEA) Conference- In Person Presentation- Contemporary DEI Centered Pedagogies- Preparing Healthcare Students for Inclusive and Equitable Care 
• 2023 SUNY CIT Conference on Instruction & Techology at SUNY Oswego- Addressing E-Professionalism in Healthcare Education: Strategies in Addressing Education & Competencies

Distinguished Leadership/Service Roles

• Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) at Downstate Faculty Advisor
• Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD)- Downstate Chapter- Faculty Advisor & Founder
• New York State Black Occupational Therapy Caucus Member (NYSBOTC)
• Association of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Occupational Therapy (AAPIOT) President (Elected)  
• SUNY Downstate Assembly of Faculty and Professional Staff- Senator (Elected) 
• American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Board Director (Elected)   
• American Occupational Therapy Association Board Certification in Pediatrics- Item Writer, 2023-2024

Honors & Awards

• SUNY Faculty Advisory Council on Teaching and Technology (FACT2)- Excellence in Administrative Leadership Award 2021- State Operated & Statutory Colleges (Awarded) 
• American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Appointment to the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee (Appointed)
• American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Appointment to the AOTA Leadership Diversity Leadership Program Development Sub-Committee- Chair
• SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching- 2022-2023
• Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA) Award-2023

 

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Dr. Arameh Podcast Interview with Tomeico Faison

Associate Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy Dr. Arameh Anvarizadeh OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, AOTA President Elect Candidate is a founding member and chair of the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD), a non-profit organization striving to empower occupational therapy leaders to engage in practices that increase diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and anti-oppression for a more transformative occupational therapy profession. She is responsible for developing the COTAD toolkit, the Ignite Series and COTAD Chapters.

Dr. Anvarizadeh recently made history as the youngest and first African American/Iranian woman to become vice president of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). She is also the youngest woman of color inducted into the association’s prestigious Roster of Fellows (FAOTA).

She also currently holds leadership positions with AOTA as chair of the Credential Review and Accountability Committee (CRAC), as a member of the Representative Assembly Leadership Committee (RALC), as a Governance Task Force member and as liaison between the Governance and DEI task forces. Dr. Anvarizadeh was also a member of the AOTA Special Task Force on Entry-Level Education, and a crucial contributor to the professional dialogue on the entry-level degree requirements. She is a recent alumna of the 2020 cohort for the Executive Leadership Program for Multicultural Women.

Within the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC), Dr. Anvarizadeh serves as a member of the Advocacy and Government Affairs Committee. She is a recipient of OTAC’s Janice Matsutsuyu Outstanding Service Award and Vision Award. She previously held the position of Communications Chair for seven years.

Dr. Anvarizadeh is an accomplished speaker who has lectured in numerous state and national conferences, as well as internationally at the World Federation of Occupational Therapists’ (WFOT) Congress. Dr. Anvarizadeh is passionate about building healthy, diverse communities through inclusion, equity, empowerment and advocacy.

 

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Dr. Jewell Dickson-Clayton Podcast Interview

Dr. Jewell Dickson-Clayton OTD, MPH, OTR/L, ATP, FAOTA Dr. Dickson-Clayton received her occupational therapy training at Tuskegee University. She currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She teaches coursework across the occupational therapy curriculum related to the occupations of adults and older adults, assistive technology, global health, and clinical education. Dr. Dickson-Clayton has more than two decades of clinical experience as an occupational therapist, with a primary focus on adult physical dysfunction and assistive technology. She holds specialty certification in assistive technology from the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America. Her community-based practice centers on enhancing the wellness of incarcerated women and fulfilling the assistive technology needs of children with disabilities in Uganda. She is a member of the World Federation of Occupational Therapy, the American Occupational Therapy Association, the National Black Occupational Therapy Association, and the Alabama Occupational Therapy Association. She is a 2022 recipient of the AOTA Roster of Fellows. She currently serves ACOTE on the Roster of Accreditation Evaluators (RAE) and the Education Standards Review Committee (ESRC). Before joining UAB in 2021, Dr. Dickson-Clayton was an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Alabama State University in Montgomery for 14 years. Most recently she has been named program director of the Entry-Level Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) at UAB. Dr. Dickson-Clayton is the first person of color to serve as program director for UAB founded in 1969.

 

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Dr. Nardia Aldridge Podcast Interview

Dr. Nardia Aldridge is a native of the beautiful Island of Jamaica and has served nine years in the United States Army, where she met her husband, Roger Aldridge. They have been married for 21 years and have two children, Alyssa and Andrew. Dr. Aldridge has a Ph.D. in Health Services, an MS in Gerontology, and a BS in Occupational Therapy. Her expertise is in Adult and Geriatric Care with a focus on Long Term and Subacute Care.

Dr. Aldridge has a passion for service. She takes students twice per year to Jamaica on a Medical Outreach Trip to provide OT services to those without access to healthcare. Dr. Aldridge also serves locally by volunteering with organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse and Heart2Heart Foundation. She is the president of the South Florida Black Occupational Therapy Caucus, which she reestablished as a charitable and not-for-profit organization within a year of relocating to Florida.  

Her areas of interest are diversity in occupational therapy, health promotion, health literacy, interprofessional activities, and community-based interventions that enhance the quality of life for mature adults. She avidly supports interdisciplinary approaches to client-centered care and her professional associations. Dr. Aldridge has presented at multiple conferences locally, nationally, and internationally about diversity, implicit bias, and health literacy in the profession.  

 

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Dr. Riqiea Kitchens Podcast Interview

Biography

Riqiea Kitchens PhD, OTR, BCPR, CSRS is a licensed occupational therapist and Assistant Professor with a commitment to education, mentoring, and service. Dr. Kitchens received her B.S. in Biology from Jackson State University, her M.S. in Occupational Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her Ph.D. in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University. Dr. Kitchens is a Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist and has Board Certification in Physical Rehabilitation through the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Dr. Kitchens's clinical experience in adult rehabilitation led her to develop a stroke self-management management program for medically underserved populations. This health promotion program provides stroke survivors with education and tools to decrease their risk for recurrent stroke. She shares her clinical expertise as an appointed member of the AOTA Commission on Practice. She was recently appointed to the Delta Research Education Foundation Researchers Workgroup to increase the engagement of African American Researchers in the NIH All of Us Research Program. Since entering academia Dr. Kitchens has expanded her research interests to include exploring barriers and supports in OT education, particularly for Black students who represent 5% of the overall student population. She’s an advocate for initiatives that increase awareness and access to OT education and has facilitated a shift to a holistic admissions process in her program to increase the diversity of the student body. Dr. Kitchens’ efforts led to scholarship which has been published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at national conferences, and sought after by the AOTA Academic Education special interest groups. Dr. Kitchens has been recognized by her students and colleagues for her efforts. She was honored as the Texas OT Association 2015 Clinical Educator of the Year, 2015 Harris Health OT of the Year, and was recognized by the UTMB Academy of Master Teachers as the March 2023 Educator of the Month. In April 2023 Riqiea Kitchens became the President of the National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus, a nearly 50-year-old organization that serves as a network of support and advocacy for the interests of Black practitioners, students, and the communities they serve.

To join: https://nbotc.wildapricot.org/Join-us

To donate: https://nbotc.wildapricot.org/Donate

 

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Kay Richardson Podcast Interview

Kay Richardson!
Entrepreneur | Author |Business Educator | Speaker | AFWC

Kay Richardson is a strategic marketing wiz, powerhouse speaker, entrepreneur, and author. Ms. Richardson has captivated clientele from The Department of State, Cargill, ADOBE, Four Eyes, Broward County, and small businesses through her savvy shoestring budget marketing tactics as an entrepreneur. She has provided a variety of business consulting services, from market strategies to new business launch plans, and grant pitches. Her clientele has included non-profits, consultants, tech and apparel startups, law firms, women in healthcare, and many more.
 Ms. Richardson teaches entrepreneurship lectures at Keiser University and has also taught Entrepreneurship and Marketing for Nova Southeastern University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy Degree Program. She also works hard to bring entrepreneurship into academia for occupational therapy students to promote and foster entrepreneurship in the occupational therapy profession.
 Kay’s work shapes the way women, people of color, and the LGBT gain economic empowerment and benefit financially in this new economy. She conducts keynotes, workshops, and training in marketing, business, and how women can realize their power. Ms. Richardson holds an MBA and is the founder of OTCEUS and author of What’s a Woman Gotta Do?

 

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