It's Within Our Scope Webinar Panel Series: Bios
Addressing education on gender affirming care in OT academia and curricula
Panelists
Alex Brandell, OTD, (they/he) Access Consultant, University of Missouri
Alex is an occupational therapist and transgender health educator. They completed their occupational therapy doctorate at Boston University, with a special focus on transgender health. They have presented on diversity education at the American Occupational Therapy Association conference and have led workshops on gender diversity with health professionals, university faculty, and the general public. Alex is based out of Minnesota but provides education across the country.
Gabriel Cravens, OTD (he/him/his), Assistant Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
Dr. Gabe Cravens earned his Doctorate of Occupational Therapy degree from USC. During his residency at USC’s Undergraduate Minor Program in Occupational Science, Dr. Cravens focused on ways to infuse Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) content into curriculum and implement recommendations for equitable and accessible educational practices. He is passionate about advocating, supporting and empowering students through a liberatory pedagogical approach in the classroom. Dr. Cravens has a unique interest in advocating and supporting LGBTQ+ individuals and sex workers. His specific research interests include sex, gender affirming care, sexuality, sexual health/education, sex work, harm reduction, justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. Notable presentations on these topics include: OTAC 2021 “Occupational Therapy’s Role in Gender-Affirming Care” and Ithaca College Honorarium 2022 “Introduction to Sex Work.”
Annie DeRolf, OTD, OTR (they/she) Clinical Assistant Professor and OTD Capstone Coordinator, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
Annie works in higher education and clinical partnership. Annie’s undergraduate studies in Psychology and Philosophy, doctoral studies in Occupational Therapy, as well as current Master of Arts studies in Religion and Theology, deeply inspire, impact, and direct both professionally and personally pursuits. Annie’s clinical experience ranges from (trans)gender health to community mental health to older adults in skilled nursing. Their/her interest includes philosophy of occupation, occupational justice, existentialism, sexuality and gender studies, theology, and theopoetics.
Jack Kleine, OTD (he/they) Associate Professor, Samuel Merritt University
Jack has worked as an occupational therapist in acute rehab, acute care, skilled nursing, and home health over a twenty-year period. His practice focus has been with adults with neurological injury. He loves to learn and have engaged in extensive personal development activities with a particular interest in the mind-body connection, alternative health, and how to create more complete wellness.
Examining the medical model on acute, pelvic health, and outpatient care for TGD clients
Panelists
Em Ike, OTR/L, CLT (they/them) Owner, Pioneer Valley Pelvic Health, LLC
Em Ike, OTR/L, CLT is a pelvic floor occupational therapist and the owner of Pioneer Valley Pelvic Health in western Massachusetts. With a commitment to holistic and inclusive wellness, Em received their MS in Occupational Therapy from Tufts University, their MS in Community Health Education from Teachers College at Columbia University, and a bachelors from Hampshire College where they focused on early childhood sex education and developing resources for intersex youth. Em is a queer, non-binary person and while they treat all bodies and genders, they particularly enjoy treating other queer, trans, and gender non-conforming people. They are dedicated to providing patient centered, trauma informed, gender affirming, and consent-based treatment to empower their patients to heal, manage, and understand their pelvic floors. Em is trained in a variety of pelvic floor treatments, including sEMG biofeedback and internal and external manual therapy techniques, and is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist.
Adam Steuer, DHSc, OTR/L, CLT (he/him) Assistant Professor, DePaul University
Dr. Adam Steuer assisted in the creation of the perioperative gender affirming surgery program in 2019 at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Dr. Steuer helped create rehabilitation protocols surrounding vaginoplasty, vulvoplasty, phalloplasty, metoidioplasty, and male chest contouring surgeries. Dr. Steuer presented at the World Professional Association for Transgender Health surgery day symposium in 2022 about the important contribution that occupational therapy practitioners can have on patient outcomes following gender affirming surgeries. He is now an assistant professor at DePaul University in Chicago.
Dr. Sakshi Tickoo (she/her) Founder, Sex, Love, And OT
Dr. Sakshi Tickoo is a brown, queer Occupational Therapist and Sexuality counselor working in the areas of sexuality, relationships and mental health across lifespan. She is the founder of Sex, Love, And OT—an inclusive, educational telehealth platform that focuses on sexual rights and liberation through education, centering pleasure, and facilitating freedom of occupational engagement in sexuality for people globally. She is also the author of SexCare—a self-help guide designed for solo and partnered pleasure through the use of sensations and self-care routine.
Other aspects of her work include collaborating with other allies, advocates, educators and NGOs around the world advancing sexuality education and research, sex worker and assault/abuse survivor healthcare and advocating for sexuality in Occupational Therapy & Sciences across various practice areas and settings.
Kaysen Walker, OT (he/him) Occupational therapy practitioner, University of Utah Health
Kaysen is an occupational therapist who currently works with patients after gender affirming surgeries at the University of Utah Hospital in the acute inpatient unit of the Specialty Surgical and Transplant Unit. He has personal insight into the experience of being transgender and is an advocate for quality transgender health care.
TGD care across the lifespan
Panelists
Temor "Tay" Amin-Arsala, OT, MS, OTR (They/He) Occupational Therapy Practitioner
Temor "Tay" is an occupational therapist and DEI advocate that lives just north of Boston, MA. They are a part-time lecturer at Tufts University, as well as serving as the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Anti-Racism Coordinator at the Waring School in Beverly, MA. Tay's professional interests and research agenda focus on the intersection of occupational therapy, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. They currently serve as the State Delegate from Massachusetts to AOTA's Representative Assembly and have previously held leadership roles in The Network for LGBTQIA+ Concerns in Occupational Therapy.
Karlie Ashcroft (They/them) Occupational Therapy Practitioner
Karlie is an occupational therapist practicing in adolescent residential mental health. They serve as a board member for The Network for LGBTQIA+ Concerns in Occupational Therapy and are passionate about promoting education about OT's role in Queer and Trans physical and mental healthcare.
Jess Bauzá de García, OTR/L (they/them) Research Consultant, LAUREL Collective
Jess is an occupational therapist and OT researcher. Jess holds a BS in Psychology from the former University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and a Master of Occupational Therapy from Bay Path University. They have clinical experience in community-based occupational therapy, pediatric outpatient work, and mental health. They have research experience in advancing inclusivity, promoting neurodivergent relational and sexual health, and exploring ways to overcome community participation barriers for marginalized populations. Jess is dedicated to empowering individuals and creating positive change through their research, advocacy, and mentorship efforts. Jess is an enthusiastic advocate for inclusivity, equality, and empowerment in the fields of occupational therapy and research. They currently work as a consultant for various projects to increase accessibility and inclusivity in contexts such as workplaces and community events.
Devlynn (Dev) Neu (he/him/they/them)
Devlynn (Dev) is a queer and gender fluid occupational therapist living in Ithaca, New York. Dev obtained their combined Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in Human Occupation and Occupational Therapy from D’Youville College, where they fiercely advocated for diversity, equity, and inclusion within and outside of the profession of OT. Dev is passionate about amplifying the voices of LGBTQIA+ individuals, educating others on the diverse needs of members of the LGBTQIA+ community on social media as The Rainbow OT, serving on the leadership team of the Network for LGBTQIA+ Concerns in Occupational Therapy, and facilitating action regarding change for improving equity, inclusion and the quality of life for those within the LGBTQIA+ community. Dev recently transitioned to full-time faculty as an Assistant Professor at Ithaca College and is looking forward to continuing this work. Dev recently co-authored chapter 12 in AOTA Press's "Trauma, Occupation, and Participation" and chapter 10 in "Sexuality and Intimacy."