About

My journey from occupational therapy to technology is grounded in human-centered design. My keen ability to empathize with the end user combined with my expertise of human factors allows me to understand the user experience from every angle.

Content Strategist & UX Writer

Whether it’s content strategy, UX writing, or product development, I practice hands-on, iterative prototyping with the end user always at the forefront. My focus has been on engagement, behavior change, and education. My area of expertise is health, wellness, rehabilitation, accessibility, and quality of life.

Health Writing: 16+ years of translating complex medical information for all audiences. 

Human Factors: My experience as an occupational therapist has allowed me to design solutions for hundreds of  individuals and impact population health.

Task Analysis: Task analysis is my superpower, and allows me to design solutions that work for the widest range of abilities. 

Content Strategy: My strategy balances usability, desirability, and clinical research.  

Clinical Strategy: A deep understanding of healthcare systems, regulations, and clinical significance allow me to identify opportunities for innovation.

Occupational Therapist

My experience in occupational therapy has allowed me to design experiences across the lifespan. My focus has been applying research to practice. Patient and caregiver education and engagement is key to successful rehabilitation and quality of life.

Approach

I practice human-centered design and hands-on, iterative prototyping to create engaging content, strategize best practices, and implement evidence-based research into practice.

Process

Needs Assessment & Research

I start by understanding the needs of the people I’m designing for. I interview to establish priorities and discover insights. I perform task analysis, and I research medical and non-medical literature.

Design & Prototyping

I use this understanding to develop creative solutions. I design experiences, services, content, and tangible artifacts, such as adaptive equipment and therapeutic toys.

Evaluation

I use qualitative and quantitative assessment techniques to ensure these efforts lead to desired outcomes—new skills, increased independence, enhanced wellness, and improved function.

I combine my creativity with knowledge of body function, cognition, and environmental factors, and my well-developed-occupational-therapist-cultivated task analysis. People so often take for granted all the components and skills that go into a single activity. 

My focus, so far, has been with therapeutic toys, adaptive aids, and splints. Commercially available adaptive aids don't often meet the needs of pediatrics with physical disabilities. I am intrigued by the implications 3D printing has on making truly individualized equipment. I am tinkering with CAD programs, but I am definitely in the early stages. I am always looking for mentors or people to collaborate with.

I live in San Francisco, CA. I work with children birth to 21 years of age who have physical disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, and other neurological or musculoskeletal conditions.

Clinical Knowledge

        •        Neuroanatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology

        •        Physical, intellectual, & developmental disabilities

        •        Habits, behavior, & cultural factors

        •        Assistive Technology

        •        Universal Design & Accessibility 

        •        Health & Wellness 

        •        Motivational Coaching

        •        Task Analysis

        •        Outcome Measures

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SKILLS

        •        Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy/Bimanual Intensive Therapy

        •        Electrical Stimulation

        •        Splinting/casting/taping

        •         Assistive Technology

        •        Universal Design

        •        Exercise Strengthening

        •        Adaptive Equipment

        •        Seating/positioning

SKILLS

        •        Human factors

        •        Behavior change  

        •         Translating clinical language into easily understood concepts

        •        UX and SEO content strategy, editing, & creation

        •        Designing solutions from clinical research to practical application

        •        Managing relationships & collaborating with medical professionals

        •        End user accessibility & disability expert 

What settings have you practiced as a therapist?

        •        Outpatient Pediatrics

        •        Inpatient Pediatrics

        •        In-home Early Intervention

        •        Inpatient Adult

        •        Adult home health