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So we have kicked off the process of analyzing and discussing the culture of the Department of Rehabilitation Services at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. I started with my leadership team to identify the "continue" behaviors that we want to be sure continue to happen. I also started our "SOAR"...

So I made it through my first week of work in my new job as Director of Rehabilitation Services at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston; 5 LONG but wonderful days! A few first impressions........ First, this place means business! They truly invest in their employees; the orientation and training...

I am very excited to have been approved by the Nominating Committee as a candidate for the office of AOTA Vice-President for 2012 to 2015! I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about myself as an occupational therapist and as a long-time volunteer for AOTA and the profession. Over the...

So I have been at my job as Director of Rehabilitation Services at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for 2 whole months. Yesterday I was in a meeting with my fellow Directors in my Division and I shared that with them AND that clearly it seem my honeymoon period as a new Director was over. People were so...

After a lot of hard work on the part of my Leadership Team I am ready to share the next step of our strategic planning process at the MD Anderson Cancer Center Department of Rehabilitation Services. We have spent over 6 months revising our Mission Statement, developing a vision statement for 2021, analyzing...

Recently the new President of the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Ronald DePinho, shared his vision that we will cure 5 cancers in the foreseeable future. Now THAT is a vision worth supporting! I believe it to be true; when you have a strong, clear, aspirational vision of the future it is easy to rally...

Wow, how time flies! Almost two months since I wrote my last blog post. When last we left our hero (grin) he was off to Philadelphia to engage in mortal combat on the dance floor at the AOTF Dancing with the Stars event at Annual Conference. If you have not seen the photos on the NorthCoast Medical...

Well it is almost here. Wednesday of this week will be my last day of employment as a college professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I am looking forward to two gainful weeks of unemployment before starting my new adventure as Director of Rehabilitation for the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center...

I have been blogging and sharing my experiences over the last few months about the strategic planning process for the Department of Rehabilitation Services at MD Anderson. The Department of Rehabilitation Services includes occupational therapy and physical therapy, employs approximately 90 FTE’s...

Today was a perfect day as a professional. Today I presented along with a large group of my physical therapy colleagues at the Texas Physical Therapy Association Conference in the The Woodlands, Texas. These colleagues are all members of the staff I supervise and they submitted a full day workshop...

Wow, so almost two months since the last time I did a Blog entry....time does really fly when you are working hard and playing hard! I have been swamped at work and have been focusing on creating more balance in my life and having a ball playing with my new friends in Houston spending much more time...

In an earlier post I mentioned that M.D. Anderson, and particularly my Division (Clinical Support Services) is totally focused on meeting customer expectations and improving our financial position through performance improvement efforts. These are formally recognized or "chartered" projects...

This week I shared my plan for a year long strategic visioning and strategic planning process for the Department of Rehabilitation Services at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center with my staff. While the Department has a mission and vision statement, I don't see them as current and they are not powerful...

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. The slate of candidates for the 2013 AOTA elections was posted today and I am happy to share that I am running for the office of AOTA Secretary. With just a few years until our Centennial year there is important work to be done. I believe that my experience as a clinician...

I had the pleasure of spending last Friday and Saturday at the AOTA Student Conclave in Louisville, Kentucky. What a GREAT experience! Our students are always full of energy and enthusiasm, and every time I go to Conclave I walk away feeling even more confident that the future of our profession is...

One important role of the AOTA Secretary is to sit as a voting member of the AOTA Board of Directors. A critical function for the Board is its fiduciary responsibility which is the responsibility to manage the association’s budget and maintain its financial health. I believe that Board members...

When voting starts on January 15 th please consider my experiences and the skills and knowledge that I will bring to the table to help the AOTA Board of Directors achieve its priorities as your new Secretary! Each year the AOTA Board of Directors identifies and shares it priorities for the next fiscal...

Voting in the AOTA Elections begin Tuesday, January 15th at 12:01 EST! Please vote and please consider casting your vote for me to have the honor of serving as the next Secretary of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Here are 10 reasons why I believe that I would be successful in this...