Q&A with AOTA’s New CEO, Dr. Katie Jordan

Katie Jordan, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, began her term as AOTA’s Chief Executive Officer in August 2024. She arrived at the Association with more than 20 years’ experience in the nonprofit sector as a clinician, educator, administrator, compliance liaison, and executive leader.  Dr. Jordan is the first occupational therapist to lead AOTA since 1999.  

Prior to arriving at AOTA, Dr. Jordan was the Chief Administrative Officer for the University of Southern California (USC) University Clinical Services, Associate Chair of USC Chan Division Clinical Occupational Therapy Services, and Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy. She also served as the AOTA Advisor on the American Medical Association Relative Value Update Committee, the Health Care Professional Advisory Committee, and the Practice Expense Committee.  

She previously served as a Director for the AOTA Board of Directors, as an AOTA Advisor to the National Quality Forum, and as the Chair of the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) Practice, Ethics, and Reimbursement Committee.  

Tell us where you grew up and what your family was like.

I was born in Texas and have had the great privilege of living in several different places. Though I went to high school in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, I’ve always considered Southern California home. Currently, I live in Los Angeles with my spouse, who is also an occupational therapist, and my three children, ages 17, 15, and 10. My parents live close by and are a tremendous help with the kids and a big part of our lives. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in occupational therapy? 

My parents were worried when I double majored in psychology/social behavior and dance at the University of California at Irvine. But I wasn’t. I always knew I wanted to go to graduate school, I just wasn’t sure when or for what discipline. After college, I was dancing and teaching Pilates and knew a fellow instructor who was a physical therapist. She actually told me, “I think you should look into occupational therapy. You’re more interested in the whole person and how they think.” She was right. I was really interested in the intersection of mind, body, and spirit and wanted to work in that space in a helping profession. My first real OT job was in Lifestyle Redesign® for a concierge medicine service, and I went on to work in mental health and adult long-term acute care and rehabilitation settings.  

What inspired you to take on the CEO role at the Association? 

Each move I’ve made in my professional career has been in alignment with my core values of service and integrity. If I can contribute something meaningful given my experience and expertise, then I will always raise my hand and take a seat at the table I’m called to. I’ve also been blessed with incredible mentors throughout my career who have held up a mirror to me and pushed me to be better and become what they saw in me. My closest mentors were very supportive when I raised my hand for this role. I’ve been a clinician, leader, and educator in occupational therapy for more than 20 years. This is my professional home, and taking on this role is a homecoming for me. In my previous role at the University of Southern California, I had the daunting responsibility of bringing five health professional schools into one governance organization to promote quality of care, effectively manage risk, and ensure patient safety. To do that, I had to break down silos and build a community. I come to this role with the same perspective: I want all of us to belong and to build this community together.  

What is your vision for the organization? 

My overarching vision for the organization is anchored in our mission—to advance occupational therapy practice, education, and research through standard-setting and advocacy on behalf of the members, the profession, and the public. To actualize our mission, we must ensure that every corner of society understands, values, and promotes the practice of occupational therapy and its power to transform a person’s physical and mental health, maintain well-being, and ultimately enjoy a higher quality of life altogether by enabling their participation in activities they value most.  

What are some of your priorities in your new role? 

First and foremost, my main priority is to do all that I can to help advance our mission. I plan on doing this by working diligently both within and outside of our community to develop and implement actionable strategies to drive the profession and the organization forward to ensure sustainability for OT practitioners, educators, researchers, students, and most importantly, the clients we all serve. Our comprehensive strategy work—a partnership between AOTA staff and our volunteer leadership—is already underway through an initiative called Vision 2030, which will be unveiled at AOTA INSPIRE 2025 in Philadelphia in April 2025. 

Occupational therapy is the lifeline for countless clients whose quality of life hinges on our ability to excel collectively as a profession. As the CEO of the nation’s largest organization serving OT practitioners and students, and the voice of occupational therapy in the United States, I reflect on this tremendous responsibility every day. 

Another priority for me is stabilizing the organization and resetting its trajectory after a tumultuous past several years. It’s no secret that the organization has faced a lot of challenges, including financial distress and weathering a global pandemic, which have left an indelible mark on us all. This said, I am intentional about creating a sense of renewal and steadfastness to AOTA, through increased transparency and open communication. I believe we are already on the right track and gaining momentum each day. I’m very optimistic and confident about our future.