President’s Message: Growing, Connecting, and Innovating Together in the Months Ahead!
Christie Tuttle MS, COTA/L, ROH
Hello OOTA Community,
What an exciting time to be part of the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association! As your President, I’m extremely gratified to see the energy and optimism being brought to OOTA’s programming. From CE courses, to ongoing committee work, to brand new initiatives enhancing the value of participation for everyone who chooses to get involved with OUR organization – OOTA is in a moment of growth and development, and I couldn’t be more proud of the incredible volunteers carrying that growth and development forward.
As we move towards autumn in the coming months, there are a number of new opportunities, initiatives, and individuals within OOTA’s community to enrich your experience within the organization. As you read about those below, please keep in mind that these only scratch the surface of the work that is ongoing within OOTA.
If you have additional ideas about how OOTA can grow into the months ahead, enhance our impact on Ohio’s OTP community, or anything else, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly.
It is your energy and perspective that makes this organization what it is, so don’t be a stranger – our door is always open!
More Ways to Plug In – New Membership Tiers!
OOTA has revamped our membership tiers in an effort to build in more flexibility, so that you can choose how you want to connect and grow with us. Everyone’s journey in OT is unique, and we want our membership options to reflect that.
Of particular note is the “LIFE LONG LEARNER-ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP,” which includes conference registration as part of your annual fee.
This isn’t just about joining OOTA. It’s about making it easier to stay connected, keep learning, and take advantage of all the professional development opportunities we offer. We’re hopeful that these new tiers will make it simpler for new folks to jump in, and for all of us to stay engaged for years to come.
Building Bridges – New Mentorship Program!
We’re rolling out a brand-new mentorship program focused on helping our members develop personal and professional skills while strengthening our community.
This program aspires to become a powerhouse for growth, skill-sharing, and really cementing that vibrant, supportive OT community we all deserve here in Ohio. We can’t wait to see the connections that blossom! Keep an eye on OOTA communications for more information about this program and the attendant opportunities in the months ahead.
OOTA Pursuing the Development of Micro-credentials
We are excited to be following in AOTA’s footsteps as we seek to be the first state association to offer OT/OTA micro credentials, further demonstrating the incredible value that comes with being an active member in our community. As OOTA starts exploring the exciting potential of validating discrete occupational therapy skills, we want to make sure that this is something that not only delivers value to those who choose to participate in micro-credential programming, but also that the learning from this program can be shared with the wider community of occupational therapy practitioners in Ohio.
We know that through this program we will be able to formally showcase the vast array of skills that exist across OOTA’s membership, and to make it easier for OOTA members and others to practice in diverse settings that enhance your professional flexibility. By providing you the platform to demonstrate your unique expertise, OOTA is looking to help our community adapt to the ever-evolving world of healthcare.
We’re keeping our eyes on this horizon and will definitely keep you in the loop as we learn more about what’s possible and firm up our micro-credential programming!
A Warm Welcome to Our New Leaders!
Before I sign off, let’s give a huge round of applause to the fantastic folks who’ve stepped up to lead our association! Their passion and vision are going to be instrumental as we move forward. Please join me in extending a warm OOTA welcome to:
- Danielle Nelson, MS, OTR/L – Northwest District Co-Chair
- Crystal Coon, COTA/L – Northwest District Co-Chair
- Denaee Tennyson, OTR/L – North Central District Chair
- Alyssa DeCarlo, MS, OTR/L, MSCS, CSRS, LSVT – Special Interest Section Coordinator – Older Adults
- Kati Garibian, S/OT – Student Committee Chair
- Nathan Grizenko, OTD, OTR/L – Social Media Chair
- Kara Brogan, OTR/L – Membership Chair
Thank you also to all of our new committee members on the Newsletter Committee, Mentorship Committee, Micro-Credential Committee, and Conference Committee. Your energy, ideas, and involvement are the heart of OOTA. Let’s make these initiatives shine and continue to elevate the incredible work of occupational therapy in Ohio, together!
Finally, I want to shout out Natalie Centers, MOTR/L, and Alyssa DeCarlo, MS, OTR/L, MSCS, CSRS, LSVT, for the Special Interest Section (SIS) meetings they have been coordinating. Natalie, OOTA’s Mental Health SIS Coordinator has been scheduling monthly members-only meetings currently being held on the first Wednesday of each month, and the first Older Adult SIS meeting is coming up on July 30. These sessions offer a great opportunity to connect with fellow occupational therapy practitioners passionate about mental health, and engage in meaningful discussions, share best practices, and collaborate on strategies to enhance your occupational therapy practice.
With all that’s going on within OOTA, I’m genuinely excited about what we can accomplish as we lean into these new opportunities to connect, learn, and grow. Thank you for all you do to help make our community what it is – we couldn’t do it without you!
With gratitude,
Christie Tuttle MS, COTA/L, ROH
President, Ohio Occupational Therapy Association
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