Welcome from the President

Welcome to the Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon and thank you for visiting our newly revised website! We are an organization dedicated to supporting occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and the community at large through advocacy, education and networking.

Whether you are looking for information regarding OT in the state of Oregon, joining us in quarterly continuing education events, participating in our annual conference, seeking leadership and advocacy opportunities, networking with fellow practitioners at OT Night Out (or our Virtual OT Night In), identifying a career opportunity on our job board, or exploring DEI self-reflections, you are in the right place! We welcome you and hope that you will enjoy our website.

My name is Lori and I am the current OTAO Board President. I started my career as an Occupational Therapist back in 2000 working in a hospital setting and later transitioning into outpatient Hand Therapy before finally landing in the Post-Acute Care Sector where my passions for OT and senior care are able to thrive. I value advocacy, occupational justice, education, belonging, collaboration, access, equity, self-care, and connection. These values are the foundation of not only our profession but of our board. I am committed to creating a long term board vision, implementing the DEI Taskforce recommendations for inclusivity, as well as supporting OTLB in maintaining an autonomous entity. Volunteerism is an emerging part of who I am and I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to serve you, our profession, and our community!

OTAO is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization. We came into being June 25, 1947 when we were admitted into AOTA. Dedicated volunteers led the successful drive for licensure and in 1977 Governor Bob Straub signed our State Licensure Practice Act (creating the Oregon OT Licensing Board). The occupational therapy community in Oregon has grown from a few therapists around the state to over 2,600 licensed OT and OTA practitioners encompassing a variety of field specialties.

OTAO is made up of an dedicated, passionate, and forward thinking group of OTs, OTAs, OT/OTA students and retirees. We would love to have you join us, so please don’t wait, get involved, and JOIN TODAY!

I am honored to be your President and look forward to our future together!