Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Melissa McGuigan

Summary

Compassionate and highly skilled occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience across school-based, clinical, and community settings. Demonstrated success in program development, team collaboration, and student mentoring. Proficient in evidence-based practices and individualized treatment planning. Skilled in managing diverse caseloads and overseeing departmental operations with precision and empathy. Committed to enhancing clients' quality of life through compassionate therapeutic care and innovative problem-solving in clinical and academic environments.

Overview

22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

OTR/L

Pepin Academies Charter ESE School
06.2019 - Current
  • Full-time lead OT at Pepin Academies Tampa campus. Pepin Academies is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit, tuition-free, public charter school that serves students with specific learning and learning related disabilities.
  • Responsible for applying advanced OT knowledge, theories, and research-based techniques to students grade 3-12 with mild to severe autism, psychiatric, cognitive, physical, and developmental disabilities through all phases of the OT process.
  • Utilizing my knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation methods to administer standardized/non-standardized assessments, synthesize and interpret data to determine a student's level of functioning relative to their age and educational placement and develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment.
  • Synthesizes evaluation results in an easy to interpret yet comprehensive written report which reflects strengths and challenges to student participation in the educational environment, directs program development and guides evidence-based intervention.
  • Applies advanced clinical practice to interventions that include and are not limited to sensory motor/integration, sensory processing/self-regulation, neuromuscular/motor skills, fine/visual motor skills, executive functioning, handwriting, student role, interaction skills, play, assistive technology, environmental modifications, adaptive equipment, pre-vocational and self-help skills. Practicing with a strong orientation to trauma-informed care, psychosocial skills, psychological components, and a developmental strengths-based approach.
  • Monitors, adjusts, adapts, and modifies orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living within the academic setting.
  • Ability to use critical analysis, clinical reasoning, and creativity to independently solve complex problems related to adapting and modifying assessments, treatment plans, activities, and procedures to meet the needs of students.
  • Leads the therapeutic process and serves as a liaison with the multi-disciplinary educational team, parents, and students to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEP's) to meet the needs of students identified with or suspected of having disabilities that interfere with academic performance.
  • Provides consultation and education to parents, administration, teachers, ESE specialists, and other related professionals regarding OT scope of practice within the school setting.
  • Oversees all OT departmental processes and daily operations including management of student caseload, scheduling, budgeting, screens, evaluations, daily documentation, quarterly reports, Medicaid billing, meetings, ordering equipment/supplies, clinic organization and sanitization.
  • Created and implemented data collection management systems for caseload management, daily documentation, plans of care, discharge, Medicaid, and task analysis tracking forms.
  • Integrative collaboration and coordination with all disciplines and services to provide appropriate and best-practice OT services to students.
  • Active member of various committees within the school for development of programs.
  • Serves as a liaison with colleges and universities to assist in the recruitment of OT interns for a variety of fieldwork and doctoral capstone experiences. Supervises OT students in accordance with standards set by American Occupational Therapy Association, the state of Florida, and employer. Provides clinical guidance in this advanced practice area to other OT students and practitioners. Current Certified Fieldwork Instructor.
  • Initiates and implements in-service and staff development programs to facilitate staff's professional growth.
  • Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, research articles, technical procedures, or governmental regulations relating to all areas of OT practice.
  • Diligent and attentive written and oral communication skills as well as effective, timely and accurate documentation. Strong ability to meet deadlines, strong organizational and time management skills.
  • Maintains safe and clean work environment while adhering to infection control and other safety policies.
  • Advanced clinical knowledge, professional judgment, and implementation of the federal, state, local legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures that mandate and guide OT practice in schools are used to assist in the development of individualized programming. Maintains OT records in accordance with professional standards, state guidelines, and school system policy.

OTR/L

Hillsborough County Schools
12.2018 - 06.2019
  • Served several school sites across Pre-K–12; performed comprehensive evaluations and developed IEP-based intervention plans.
  • Delivered therapy focused on sensory processing, visual/fine motor skills, executive functioning, and classroom modifications.
  • Independently managed scheduling, documentation, and equipment needs across multiple campuses.

OTR/L

Simsbury Public Schools
08.2016 - 10.2018
  • Delivered therapy services to K–12+ students in four schools and for homebound students.
  • Led assessment, treatment planning, sensory-based strategies, and classroom support in collaboration with IEP/504 teams.
  • Supported RtI initiatives, parent collaboration, and staff consultation for educational access.

Level II fieldwork

Easter Seals
01.2016 - 03.2016
  • Level II fieldwork- Adult outpatient rehabilitation full time 40 hr./Wk.


Level II fieldwork

CREC Birth to Three
10.2015 - 12.2015
  • Level II fieldwork- Pediatric birth to three services full time 40 hours/Wk.
  • Lead comprehensive OT evaluations on children from 0-3 years of age to establish eligibility for early intervention services.
  • Assessments used: Battelle Developmental Inventory; Alberta Infant Motor Scale; Hawaii Early Learning Profile; MCHAT; Sensory Profile; Carolina; Peabody; REEL and DECA
  • Treated children with various conditions including but not limited to severe developmental delays, autism, Down's syndrome, CVA, pre-maturity, seizure d/o, Polymicrogyria and chromosome abnormalities.
  • Collaborated with parents, caregivers, and interdisciplinary team members via coaching model to develop and establish comprehensive IFSP, plan of care, address areas of need as well as assessing developmental progress and next steps.
  • Completed a high volume of paperwork including daily documentation and comprehensive evaluations.

COTA

ACES Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities
07.2013 - 08.2015
  • Full-time COTA provided services to children ages eleven to twenty-one with autism, psychiatric and developmental disabilities in an applied behavior analysis (ABA) program.
  • OT treatment focused on the use of activity analysis during life skills training in contrived and community environments as well addressing sensory motor/integration, self-regulation, fine/gross neuromuscular, executive functioning, visual perception, and self-care activities.
  • Developed task analysis data collection sheets for program objectives and maintained daily data collection, treatment notes, Medicaid documentation, quarterly progress updates and IEP goal and objectives.
  • Instructed daily adaptive yoga classes to students that were screened and evaluated to participate.
  • Consulted with interdisciplinary team members (i.e., teachers, ABA trainers, BA's, PT and SLP) regarding treatment plans, progress in treatment, and recommendations for changes in treatment.

Level I fieldwork

Chesterfields Health Care Center
01.2015 - 03.2015
  • Level I fieldwork- Geriatric short- and long-term rehabilitation.

Level I fieldwork

Sensation Station
10.2014 - 12.2014
  • Level I fieldwork- Outpatient pediatric clinic for developmental disabilities.

Level I fieldwork

Crisis Stabilization Unit
07.2014 - 09.2014
  • Level I fieldwork- Short-term inpatient for psychiatric and substance abuse.

COTA

SESI High Road School
07.2011 - 07.2013
  • Full-time on campus COTA that provided services to children grades 1-12+ with various challenges associated with psychological/physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory processing disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and global developmental delays in a private school setting.
  • OT intervention focused on sensory processing/integration, life-skills, cognitive processing/executive functioning, visual perceptual/motor, gross/fine motor skills and attention issues. Treatment also included working on fine motor skills related to handwriting, organization skills and collaboration with the teacher to modify the classroom and/or adapt learning materials to facilitate successful participation.
  • Updated IEP goals and objectives composed annual reviews and attended IEP meetings.

COTA

Brookdale Senior Living
12.2009 - 07.2011
  • Full-time COTA provided outpatient and home health OT services to adults/geriatric clients within a retirement community in 3 locations.
  • Applied extensive clinical knowledge and researched supported treatment methods to correct physical dysfunction, increase independence as well as maintain wellness for the patients.
  • Specialized in treatment for incontinence using E-Stim and exercises. Competent with physical agent modalities (PAMS).
  • Procurement of prefabricated splints as well as fabricated, adjusted, adapting, and modifying splints, and adaptive equipment to maximize independence with activities of daily living.
  • Consulted with and trained nursing, CNA staff, families, and caregivers.
  • Addressed postural needs for self-care, feeding, and mobility through core strength and visual feedback.
  • Completed home assessments and provided education on adaptation and modification of home environments to improve independence, safety and meet the needs of the individual and family needs.
  • Developed and educated patients on home exercise programs (HEP) for fine and gross motor exercise programs, ADL/IADL tasks.
  • Performed monthly facility in-service wellness training to residents and staff on prevention and wellness.

COTA

Avery Heights Rehabilitation Center
02.2006 - 12.2009
  • Full-time COTA provided services in sub-acute, home care and outpatient settings.
  • Worked with various diagnoses including orthopedic, neurological, and cognitive disorders, cardiac and pulmonary diseases as well as incontinence.
  • Facilitated and implemented treatment modalities for restoration of upper extremity function and increase maximum level of independence with ADL/IADL skills.
  • Conducted splinting, custom wheelchair positioning, as well as ACP (PAMS) utilization.
  • Implemented home safety evaluation and treatment plans.

COTA

Hewitt Heath and Rehab, Apple Health Care
07.2004 - 02.2006
  • Full-time COTA in a sub-acute facility for adult and geriatric patients, with various diagnoses including orthopedic, neurological and cognitive disorders, cardiac and pulmonary diseases; conducting splinting, positioning, feeding and ADL interventions.
  • Instructed patients in the appropriate and safe utilization of adaptive/home safety equipment Perform portions of patient assessment/evaluations in collaboration with rehab team.

Per-diem

Hartford Hospital Rehabilitation Unit
08.2004 - 05.2005
  • Per-diem in an acute 10 bed unit for adolescents and adult patients. Provided one on one therapy to patients with various conditions including CVA, TBI, SCI, brain tumors, amputations, and multi-trauma from MVA's. Provided services that identified, restored, and remedied upper extremity function, endurance, and maximized independence and ADL status, as well as cognitive and perceptual motor function.

COTA

Bethel Health Care Center
02.2003 - 07.2004

Education

Master of Science Degree - Occupational Therapy

New England Institute of Technology
East Greenwich, Rhode Island
03.2016

Associate in Science Degree - Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

Manchester Community College
Manchester, Connecticut
12.2002

Skills

  • Effective problem resolution
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Flexible and adaptable
  • Dependable and responsible
  • Skilled in digital tools
  • Composed in high-pressure situations
  • Proficient in prioritizing tasks
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration

Certification

  • Florida License #19429
  • NBCOT Certification #35771- Active
  • Member AOTA- Active

Timeline

OTR/L

Pepin Academies Charter ESE School
06.2019 - Current

OTR/L

Hillsborough County Schools
12.2018 - 06.2019

OTR/L

Simsbury Public Schools
08.2016 - 10.2018

Level II fieldwork

Easter Seals
01.2016 - 03.2016

Level II fieldwork

CREC Birth to Three
10.2015 - 12.2015

Level I fieldwork

Chesterfields Health Care Center
01.2015 - 03.2015

Level I fieldwork

Sensation Station
10.2014 - 12.2014

Level I fieldwork

Crisis Stabilization Unit
07.2014 - 09.2014

COTA

ACES Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities
07.2013 - 08.2015

COTA

SESI High Road School
07.2011 - 07.2013

COTA

Brookdale Senior Living
12.2009 - 07.2011

COTA

Avery Heights Rehabilitation Center
02.2006 - 12.2009

Per-diem

Hartford Hospital Rehabilitation Unit
08.2004 - 05.2005

COTA

Hewitt Heath and Rehab, Apple Health Care
07.2004 - 02.2006

COTA

Bethel Health Care Center
02.2003 - 07.2004

Associate in Science Degree - Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

Manchester Community College

Master of Science Degree - Occupational Therapy

New England Institute of Technology

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