Therapy Entrepreneurs and Leaders of Color

Fatima and Joshua Podcast Interview

Fatima, OTS

Fatima, OTS, is a third-year student in the Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program. Her academic and professional interests center around innovative approaches to knowledge sharing and accessibility within occupational therapy. As part of her capstone project, she has been actively involved in supporting the transformation of this podcast into a published book, contributing to both its development and long-term impact. Fatima is set to graduate in May 2026 and will return as an individual guest on the podcast in the future.

Joshua, OTS, CLVT

Joshua, OTS, CLVT, is a third-year student in the Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program. With a strong focus on advancing accessible and meaningful content in occupational therapy, his capstone work includes contributing to the development of this podcast into a book format. His work reflects a commitment to bridging clinical knowledge with broader audiences. Joshua will graduate in May 2026 and is also expected to appear as an individual guest on the podcast in the future.

 

 

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Dr. Adam Cisroe Pearson Podcast Interview

Dr. Adam Cisroe Pearson

 

Dr. Adam Cisroe Pearson is the director of the Department of Human Services for the City of St. Louis. As director, he oversees numerous divisions that provide funding and supports to the residents of St. Louis City, including the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging; the Homeless Services Division; The Office on the Disabled; the Youth and Family Division, and a Fiscal Division that manages the complex network of accounts that fund the critical work. He received his bachelor of science in psychology from Missouri State University, and his doctorate in occupational therapy from Washington University in St. Louis.

 

He has held teaching, clinical and research roles as a faculty member at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, helped launch the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis, and has dedicated much of his career to community mental health spaces as an organizational leader and homeless services champion.  He is a longtime advocate for housing equity, community accessibility, and social policies that redress inequality. Dr. Pearson is married and has two young children that keep him humble, exhausted and laughing at all times.

 

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Dr Tajze Johnson Podcast Interview

Dr. Tajze Johnson, OTD, MHA, COTA/L

Dr. Tajze Johnson's life embodies the words of Langston Hughes: "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair." His journey, shaped by adversity and marked by unwavering resilience, reflects a deep commitment to service, perseverance, and community uplift.
Born with a kidney disease, Dr. Johnson faced kidney failure before turning 30. For nearly four years, he endured nightly peritoneal dialysis treatments before receiving a life-changing transplant. As a young athlete who excelled in sports and fitness, he initially concealed his illness to project an image of strength. Through his struggles, he discovered that true strength is not measured by physical prowess but by character, mindset, service to family and community, and continuous personal growth.

Dr. Johnson's scholarly achievements are impressive. He earned his Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from Methodist University in 2024, after obtaining his Occupational Therapy Assistant credentials from Eastern Virginia Career College, a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies with a minor in business management and concentration in entrepreneurship from Belmont Abbey College, and a master's in healthcare administration from Purdue University. When his kidneys failed during graduate school, many advised him to pause his studies. Instead, he persevered, graduating on time while working part-time to support himself and cover tuition. Today, he serves as an Adjunct Professor at Central Piedmont Community College, where he mentors the next generation of occupational therapy practitioners.
Dr. Johnson's leadership extends across local, state, and national platforms. He currently serves as an AOTA RISE Pathways Program Scholar, furthering his commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the profession. He has represented students in the American Occupational Therapy Association Assembly of Student Delegates as an Advocacy Representative. 

Recognizing the need to organize and support Black graduate students, he helped found and served as the inaugural President of the Black Student Union Graduate Chapter at Methodist University. At the state level, he has contributed to the North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association DEI Committee, served as a Student Board Member, and currently holds the position of Secretary for the North Carolina Black Occupational Therapy Caucus. He is also developing the Pathways to Promise Project (P³), a pilot initiative designed to introduce students from Title I schools to careers in occupational therapy, expanding access and representation in the field.

 

Beyond formal leadership, Dr. Johnson is passionate about mentorship and advocacy. His experience as a residential counselor working with at-risk youth reinforced his belief in the transformative power of positive role models. He advocates for equity in organ transplantation, particularly for underserved communities, and champions the role of occupational therapy in improving transplant outcomes. As a proud member of North Carolina Transplant Athletes, he works to raise awareness about organ donation, build community among transplant recipients, and reduce stigma. Dr. Johnson's health challenges have taught him that life is precious and finite. He strives not only to leave the world better than he found it but also to live fully. He cherishes time with his
family, wife, and friends.

His lived experiences as a transplant recipient, educator, mentor, leader, and advocate have uniquely positioned him to contribute meaningfully to initiatives focused on health equity, mentorship, and social action. Though his path has been far from smooth, Dr. Tajze Johnson has never turned back or sat down. He continues climbing, inspiring others to do the same.

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Dr. Cristina Reyes Smith Podcast Interview

Bio:

Dr. Cristina Reyes Smith.

 

Dr. Smith has more than fifteen years of experience as an occupational therapist and community leader, with a focus on health promotion, program development, and volunteer service. Throughout her career, she has been a national speaker for AOTA and has authored several publications related to occupational therapy practice and service delivery for diverse and undeserved communities. She has presented nationally and internationally on occupational therapy and has held leadership roles at universities, state organizations, and national professional associations.

In addition to her leadership work, she previously served as the owner and business development coordinator of Vida Bella Services, a pediatric occupational and physical therapy agency. Today, Dr.Smith serves as the Vice President of AOTA, where she works to promote leadership, advocacy, and increased access to care for the occupational therapy profession and the communities it serves.

 

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Dominique Bostic-Arrington Podcast Interview

Bio

 

Dominique Bostic-Arrington

OTR/L, CSRS

Occupational Therapist, Farmer

 

Dominique Bostic-Arrington is an occupational therapist, entrepreneur, and community leader who founded AAA Therapeutic Solutions in honor of her three children—Amani, Amari, and Amara. Her purpose is to serve clients of all ages and stages by promoting physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being through holistic, client-centered approaches.

In addition to being a licensed and registered occupational therapist, Dominique is a certified stroke rehabilitation specialist, tai chi instructor, and myofascial release clinician. Her journey in healthcare began in 2009 while serving as a medic in the United States Army National Guard. She earned her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Florida A&M University in 2014. Following the completion of her military enlistment in 2016, she began a new chapter as an occupational therapist, mother, and wife.

Since then, Dominique has expanded her vision to include creating the AAA Therapeutic Farm and LiveLearnPlay Preschool, which provide nature-based and outdoor services on an urban farm in West Charlotte. In addition to occupational therapy–based services, the farm offers yoga and adaptive yoga, therapeutic art, tai chi, peer support groups, gardening, community events, post-stroke services, and animal-assisted interventions.

 

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Dr. Ana Brussa Interview

Ana Brussa completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Florida, earning a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy. She then moved to Boston, where she earned her master’s degree and doctorate in occupational therapy from Boston University. Ana lived in Boston for 15 years, practicing pediatric occupational therapy in outpatient settings. She spent 11 years at Tufts Children’s Hospital, working across a wide range of pediatric settings, including the NICU, PICU, inpatient services, and outpatient feeding. Ana currently lives in Texas, where she transitioned into pediatric home health. Until this past year, she served as the Director of Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement, and she now continues her work as the Lead Occupational Therapist for her agency.

 

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Maggie Conners Deforge Podcast Interview

Maggie (Conners) DeForge is a dedicated leader and advocate in the field of Occupational Therapy, with a strong focus on supporting Native and Indigenous communities. She serves in a leadership capacity related to Occupational Therapy for Native communities and is deeply committed to increasing the number of Native Occupational Therapy practitioners while expanding access to culturally responsive occupational therapy services for Indigenous individuals and communities. Her professional work centers on community health, inclusion, leadership development, and strengthening representation within healthcare professions. With expertise in occupational therapy practice, program development, and advocacy, she works toward improving service delivery systems and empowering Native communities through education, mentorship, and culturally grounded healthcare initiatives.

 

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Dr. Razan Hamed Podcast Interview

Dr. Razan Hamed, PhD, OTR/L

Professional Biography

Dr. Razan Hamed, PhD, OTR/L is a Full Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine (Occupational Therapy) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUMC), Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, where she is also the Associate Director of the Programs in Occupational Therapy. (Vagelos College)

Dr. Hamed holds a PhD in Rehabilitation Science and an MS in Rehabilitation Science/Occupational Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh, and a BSc in Occupational Therapy from the University of Jordan. (Vagelos College)

She is involved in professional and academic service, including membership in the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), and the Jordan Society for Occupational Therapists (JSOT). She also serves on the editorial board of Transactions on Pervasive Health and Technology and contributes as a peer reviewer for multiple occupational therapy journals and conferences. (Vagelos College)

Dr. Hamed’s research includes work on culturally adapted assessment tools such as the Arabic Heritage Activity Card Sort (A-ACS) and the Arabic version of the Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills (A-PASS), as well as projects using virtual reality to enhance empathy and understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles in health professions education. (Vagelos College)

 

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Michael Bermudez Podcast Interview

Dr. Michael Bermudez, a first-generation immigrant born in the Philippines, is the Program Director of the Hybrid Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at Shenandoah University, where he leads curriculum innovation, accreditation alignment, and faculty development. A Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Uganda, he has promoted global community rehabilitation and instructional technology education through collaborative initiatives on assistive technology and health promotion. His scholarship and international presentations focus on integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance community rehabilitation research, assessment, and outcomes, preparing future rehabilitation practitioners to lead in technology-driven healthcare settings.

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Dr. Sandra Dunbar-Smalley Podcast Interview

Dr. Sandra Dunbar-Smalley (Sandee) received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Loma Linda University, her Master of Art degree from New York University and her Doctorate in Public Administration from Nova Southeastern University. Sandee is currently the Chief Learning Officer for AdventHealth. She oversees numerous leadership development and learning programs. Sandee served for four years as the Provost of AdventHealth University, which followed over twenty years at Nova Southeastern University as an Occupational Therapy faculty member, Chair and then Assistant Dean in the College of Healthcare Sciences. Sandee developed the Center for Academic and Professional Excellence at Nova Southeastern University to train faculty members in research, teaching/learning principles and leadership/management aspects of higher education.

Sandee is also the author and co-author of leadership books, An Occupational Perspective of Leadership (3 editions), geared towards enabling others to easily apply leadership theory in everyday clinical and classroom experiences. Sandee has presented nationally and internationally on topics related to effective leadership practices, family centered care, occupation-centered practice and early intervention. Sandee has received many academic and service awards, including three Golden Apple awards for her teaching excellence. She enjoys mentoring and has been rewarded by seeing several mentees become leaders. She is married to Arnel Smalley, CEO of Small World Solutions, and has two adult children. Sandee’s favorite occupations are family time, traveling, reading, swimming, trying new restaurants and playing the piano.

 

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