Episodes

Sunday Jun 25, 2023
Dr. Riqiea Kitchens Podcast Interview
Sunday Jun 25, 2023
Sunday Jun 25, 2023
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.

Monday May 01, 2023
Kay Richardson Podcast Interview
Monday May 01, 2023
Monday May 01, 2023
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?

Thursday Mar 23, 2023
Dr. Iwama Podcast Interview
Thursday Mar 23, 2023
Thursday Mar 23, 2023
Michael Iwama, Ph.D., MSc, BScOT
Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Dr. Iwama is widely recognized for having developed the “Kawa Model” (‘Kawa’ is Japanese for ‘River’), the first substantial model of practice in the rehabilitation sciences developed outside the English-speaking world. The Kawa Model is now taught in over 600 health professions education programs internationally and used in practice across six continents. He has emerged as a very important and progressive thinker in the fields of occupational therapy and rehabilitation sciences worldwide.
Dr. Iwama draws on his rich experience of acculturating into Eastern and Western social spheres of experience to drive his profound and critical perspectives on culture and its intersections with theory and practice in the rehabilitation sciences.
Most recently, Dr. Iwama was the Dean of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, at MGH Institute of Health Professions.
A passionate and captivating communicator, Dr, Iwama regularly is invited to lecture to both U.S. and international audiences. Since his book, The Kawa Model: Culturally Relevant Occupational Therapy, was published in 2006, he has given over 350 invited national and international lectures and over 40 keynote and plenary addresses at scientific and professional conferences. He has more than 25 publications in both English and Japanese professional journals.
Dr. Iwama is an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto and holds similar adjunct professorial appointments at six universities in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Asia. Prior to arriving at the MGH Institute, he was a professor and chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy at Augusta University, formerly the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Iwama completed advanced studies in Medical Anthropology from the University of Leiden, Netherlands, and has earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from Kibi International University in Japan, an MSc in Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of British Columbia, a BSc in Occupational Therapy from the University of British Columbia, and a BSc in Human Performance from the University of Victoria.

Saturday Feb 25, 2023
Patrice Maynard Podcast Interview
Saturday Feb 25, 2023
Saturday Feb 25, 2023
Patrice Maynard, MOT, OTR/L, OTDS, is the founder and owner of Maynard Milestones, LLC. She received her Bachelor of Science degree and Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from Quinn-i-piac University in Hamden, CT. She is currently a post-professional Doctoral candidate in Occupational Therapy at Quinnipiac University, finishing her degree this year, 2023.
Patrice is a board-certified occupational therapist licensed to practice in New Jersey and New York. She has a background in skilled nursing, geriatrics, sub-acute, and long-term care settings. Aside from those areas, she is currently practicing as a pediatric occupational therapist for over four years in the early intervention setting as an independent contractor. Her mission is to ensure she is not only treating the child but also making the family aware of taking care of themselves and incorporating wellness in all areas.

Monday Jan 16, 2023
Elle Holmes-Russell Podcast Interview
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Monday Jan 16, 2023
La’ Shandra “Elle” Holmes-Russell is owner and operator of Occupational Transitions, LLC, a mobile women and infants’ health clinic that offers the following in person and virtual services: Female Pelvic Floor Therapy, Early Intervention (birth-3yrs), lactation and breastfeeding education and care management, pregnancy and postpartum musculoskeletal rehabilitation, infant massage classes, postnatal yoga, and a monthly occupation-based psychosocial support group for mothers of color in the up to one-year postpartum period.
Elle obtained her Master of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy from Shenandoah University, as well as a Certificate in Early Intervention from Georgetown University in 2019. Since graduation, she has obtained certifications as an Educator of Infant Massage, Postnatal Yoga, Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist, and a Herman & Wallace Level 1 Pelvic Floor Therapist. Elle has also completed the PSI 2-Day “Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care* training, and is completing her hours with plans to sit for the PSI PMH-C and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Exams in fall 2023.
Elle is passionate about partnering with families in order to collaboratively, and holistically identify therapeutic interventions that support and strengthen familial bonds, as well as maximize childhood developmental outcomes.
For it is Elle's held belief that “relationship is the organizing factor in which all development (physical, social, and emotional) occurs”...and that “…[society] must start thinking of maternal mental health and women’s health as an upfront investment in the well-being of the entire family…”, in order to provide timely and equitable care services to fully support the mother/birthing person’s transition into mother-or parenthood. A belief that has guided the development and planned 2023 launch of the “Grounded & Rooted in M.OT.HER.HOOD Wellness Project”.
Website: occupationaltransitions.com
IG: @elle_thepelvichealth_ot
IG: @tetpelviccollective
Email: elle@occupationaltransitions.com

Monday Jan 16, 2023
Elle Holmes-Russell Podcast Interview
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Monday Jan 16, 2023
La’ Shandra “Elle” Holmes-Russell is owner and operator of Occupational Transitions, LLC, a mobile women and infants’ health clinic that offers the following in person and virtual services: Female Pelvic Floor Therapy, Early Intervention (birth-3yrs), lactation and breastfeeding education and care management, pregnancy and postpartum musculoskeletal rehabilitation, infant massage classes, postnatal yoga, and a monthly occupation-based psychosocial support group for mothers of color in the up to one-year postpartum period.
Elle obtained her Master of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy from Shenandoah University, as well as a Certificate in Early Intervention from Georgetown University in 2019. Since graduation, she has obtained certifications as an Educator of Infant Massage, Postnatal Yoga, Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist, and a Herman & Wallace Level 1 Pelvic Floor Therapist. Elle has also completed the PSI 2-Day “Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care* training, and is completing her hours with plans to sit for the PSI PMH-C and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Exams in fall 2023.
Elle is passionate about partnering with families in order to collaboratively, and holistically identify therapeutic interventions that support and strengthen familial bonds, as well as maximize childhood developmental outcomes.
For it is Elle's held belief that “relationship is the organizing factor in which all development (physical, social, and emotional) occurs”...and that “…[society] must start thinking of maternal mental health and women’s health as an upfront investment in the well-being of the entire family…”, in order to provide timely and equitable care services to fully support the mother/birthing person’s transition into mother-or parenthood. A belief that has guided the development and planned 2023 launch of the “Grounded & Rooted in M.OT.HER.HOOD Wellness Project”.
Website: occupationaltransitions.com
IG: @elle_thepelvichealth_ot
IG: @tetpelviccollective
Email: elle@occupationaltransitions.com

Friday Nov 04, 2022
Dr. Tomeico Faison Podcast Interview
Friday Nov 04, 2022
Friday Nov 04, 2022
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.

Saturday Oct 01, 2022
Trisha McNeil, OTS Podcast Interview
Saturday Oct 01, 2022
Saturday Oct 01, 2022
Bio
Since her very meager beginnings, Trisha McNeil, OTS always knew that she had a future filled with success, self-expression, and creativity. Born and raised in the inner city of Kansas City, MO, she was raised by her paternal grandparents and father. Her life changed for the better when she attended a public college-prep academy. There, she discovered that her dreams could become actualized with hard work and grit. She went on the earn a bachelor's degree in health science and a master's degree in occupational therapy.
During a time of grief, Trisha found creative inspiration. Home alone with nothing but free time, she drafted and developed her first batch of work and activity books for both children and adults. She has no plans to slow down. In the near future, her goal is to write and self-publish a memoir that details the first 25 years of her life.
The author now resides in Colorado and is completing her fieldwork in pediatric home health.
Coloring Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Like-Occupational-Therapist-coloring/dp/1959292021/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=3HGAVNVAS7UL6&keywords=trisha%20mcneil&qid=1662657154&sprefix=%2Caps%2C202&sr=8-2&fbclid=IwAR3h9tjlBFhNY-kB0B_yRY7MtlItBYYn9LoHPIULQGXm13wOGah38MLUmes
Author Page Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Trisha-McNeil/e/B0BC5JDGZ5/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

Monday Jul 11, 2022
Dr. Bill Wong Podcast Interview
Monday Jul 11, 2022
Monday Jul 11, 2022
Dr. Bill Wong is an occupational therapist from California. His primary setting is a skilled nursing facility setting. He also teaches as a faculty at Stanbridge University. His favorite occupations are traveling, playing golf, and organizing TEDx events. Right now, Bill is preparing his record-extending third TEDx speech, which is a record amongst occupational therapy students and practitioners. Bill has served in the Representative Assembly and Volunteer Leadership Development Committee for the last 5 years.

Tuesday May 03, 2022