We did it!!!
Thank you so much for your support!
My 3 year term as AOTA Vice President will begin July 1, 2024.
CRISTINA REYES SMITH
Occupational Therapy
Educator, Advocate, & Clinician Scholar
Dr. Cristina Reyes Smith has over 15 years of experience as an occupational therapist and community leader in health promotion, program development, and volunteer service. She has been featured nationally as a speaker for AOTA and has published multiple articles regarding OT practice and service delivery with diverse and underserved communities. She has presented nationally, internationally, and across a number of states about occupational therapy. She has served in leadership roles in both university, state, and national positions. She is Former Owner and Business Development Coordinator of Vida Bella Services, LLC a pediatric occupational and physical therapy agency.
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Cristina is running for AOTA Vice President to promote leadership, advocacy, and access to care for the occupational therapy profession and beyond.
KEY FOCUS AREAS
LEADERSHIP
Cristina currently serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Occupational Therapy Education (JOTE) and the Standing for Research Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (STRIDE) Committee of the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF). She previously served on the AOTA Board of Directors and served two terms as the South Carolina State Representative to the AOTA Representative Assembly. She also served as Secretary of the South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association.
ADVOCACY
Cristina is a founding member and previous Academic Engagement Coordinator of the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) and COTAD-ED, an initiative for connecting educators. She previously served as Co-Chair of the South Carolina Pediatric Occupational Therapy Telehealth Task Force. She has coordinated an annual advocacy visit in honor of AOTA Hill Day to the South Carolina State House since 2013.
ACCESS TO CARE
Cristina is currently Admissions Director and an Associate Professor in the Division of Occupational Therapy at the Medical University of South Carolina. She co-directs the HRSA Scholarship for Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds there. She also owned and operated a private practice for almost 10 years to provide access to occupational and physical therapy services to pediatric clients with challenges in access to care due to income, language, and/or geographic barriers.