What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I am an occupational therapist (OT) and assistive technology professional. I work with patients and their families to order their custom wheelchairs, cover clinics and see our Intensive Therapy patients.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I love getting to see a child and/or family reach their care goals. I really love when I get to be involved in the process of a child receiving their first wheelchair. When children finally have the ability to safely move in their own environment and with minimal help from others, their faces light up. You get to see them get so excited and start moving around everywhere.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
Scottish Rite is really like a big family, not just between co-workers but with patients and their families as well. Even on harder days, everyone is always looking to do their best for the patients and their families.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I have always wanted to do work that helps other people. When I was in high school, I met a little girl with cerebral palsy, and her mom told me all about OT. The little girl was able to be a kid and play within her environment through OT. It was a light bulb moment for me that OT was the career path for me.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I work across many settings within Scottish Rite, so I get to build relationships with many colleagues. I love getting to know our inpatient nurses and staff, clinical staff, physcians and even our outside vendors.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I enjoy playing with my dog Kodak, being outside and hanging out with my husband and my friends. We spend a lot of time at Lake Palestine in East Texas to fish, swim, kayak and paddleboard.

Where are you from, and what brought you to DFW?
I grew up in Jacksonville, Texas, which is around 20 minutes south of Tyler, Texas, (also known as “The 903”). I do have a little bit of a country accent from living in East Texas, and sometimes it gets stronger when I work with families from East Texas. I moved to Denton, Texas, for college and then to the DFW area for graduate school. I was a student at Scottish Rite in 2019, and I was hired in 2020 and have stayed here since.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would go to Austraila to see all the wildlife and beaches!

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I choose burgers. I love making burgers because you can add different toppings to make it like a different meal each time.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
“Napoleon Dynamite”

What was the first concert you attended?
I saw Kenny Chesney.

Favorite hidden DFW gem?
Taqueria Los Angeles in Plano, Texas.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
Anne Hathaway, but she has to have her crazy curls before her makeover in “The Princess Diaries.”

What is some advice you would give your younger self, OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
An old co-worker told me it is OK to take a minute and take a breath when things get hard. This has stuck with me as a great reminder.

What is your job title at Scottish Rite?
I am primarily an outpatient occupational therapist (OT). I meet with patients weekly to work on specific goals related to upper extremity function. I also guide them through activities that support their ability to do the things they need and want to do each day. I primarily work with patients who have arthrogryposis, spina bifida, cerebral palsy and various upper extremity differences.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I love building relationships with families and their children to help them achieve their goals. I have worked at Scottish Rite long enough that now I get to see patients through the different stages of their lives. It’s so fun being able to see these kids grow and succeed.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
It’s truly the people. Everyone that works here embodies the mission and vision of Scottish Rite, and it’s evident in the care we provide to children.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I started out as an accounting major, but I quickly found out I don’t fit in very well with the business world. The majority of my family works in health care, so I saw firsthand how they impact their patients and wanted to do the same.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
What I am most proud of is creating custom, adaptive devices and equipment for children with unique anatomy. Many of the options on the market for this are great, but they don’t always work for patients who have muscle, joint or limb differences. To bridge this gap, I collaborate with Eddie in the Orthotics and Prosthetics department and Brad in the Bioengineering department to create innovative devices to help children become as independent as possible.

With help from my collague Amy Sitabkhan, I started a program where we see our children who have arthrogryposis for weeklong bouts of care to work on specific activities of daily living. This also includes creating and testing different adaptive devices and techniques for independence. This type of treatment plan is very specialized and not always plausible outside of Scottish Rite, so I’m lucky to be in an institution that allows me to do this for our patients.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I enjoy playing music. I have been a classically-trained pianist since I was 4 years old, and I can play the guitar, ukulele and cello. Recently, I have also been into Formula 1.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I can fall asleep anywhere, including in front of the Eiffel Tower. My co-workers would also say I’m pretty good at Photoshop.

Where are you from, and what brought you to DFW?
I was born and raised here in DFW. I moved away for school, but Dallas will always be my home!

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would go to Ecuador. I was supposed to teach therapists there, but the trip got canceled during the pandemic. I would love to explore the Amazon Rainforest and Galápagos Islands as well!

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would eat a spicy Chick-fil-A sandwich and waffle fries. I would pair it with the Chick-fil-A sauce and Texas Pete hot sauce. I can’t tell you why other than it is good, but I like it.

What was the first concert you attended?
I don’t remember my first concert, but the best concert I have ever attended was the Backstreet Boys reunion concert. I lost my voice for days!

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
It’s not really a hidden gem anymore, but the Potpourri Boulangerie in Bishop Arts District has the best high tea in Dallas. I also really love JingHe Japanese Restaurant on Mockingbird for all you can eat sushi.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
They look nothing like me, but I think Kristen Bell or Keke Palmer would probably play me pretty accurately. They are both funny and snarky, and I think they would break into song at random times of the day like me.

What is some advice you would give your younger self, OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Always do everything you’re afraid of.