Sarah Brunermer
Cambridge,MA
Summary
Resourceful and creative occupational therapist with 6 years of experience in outpatient work with infants and adults. Works collaboratively with occupational therapists, physical therapists and orthopedic surgeons, utilizing innovative treatment strategies, individualized care plans, and technology, to promote positive outcomes and address complex diagnoses, developmental disabilities, cognitive impairments, traumatic injuries, and surgical recovery. Responsive communicator who adapts language, tone, and the environment based on patient/parent language barriers and cognitive needs. Builds trust and optimizes patient learning by encouraging active patient/parent participation in treatment planning and goal-setting.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Occupational Therapist I
Boston Children’s Hospital
09.2021 - Current
- · Member of OT Outpatient team. Responsible for initial evaluation and treatment of individuals from three months to young adult. Conditions treated but not limited to, include musculoskeletal, orthopedic, or neurologic disorders or injuries, upper extremity traumatic injuries, neurologic/movement disorders, infant torticollis and plagiocephaly, and congenital hand differences.
- Member of Cerebral Palsy and Spasticity Center. Participate in weekly clinic consulting directly with patients and their families to address developmental needs as well as concerns pertaining to functional use of their upper extremities in meaningful and daily occupations. Administer in-depth evaluations, including but not limited to, Shriner’s Hospital Upper Extremity Evaluation, followed by clinical discussions with surgical team to support subsequent interventions.
- · Member of William’s Syndrome Clinic. Provide monthly evaluations and recommendations for patients and their families. Participate and contribute in monthly team meetings to discuss and address patient needs.
- Specialization in motor intensive programs including pediatric constraint induced movement therapy, bilateral intensive therapy, and robotic assistive therapy.
- Responsible for upper extremity serial casting in collaboration with physicians and casting team
- Additionally, supporting subsequent orthotic needs for fabrication or custom order.
- · Provide supervision, mentoring and evaluation for Occupational Therapy students completing their Level II placements.
Occupational Therapist
Bayada Home Care
08.2020 - 09.2021
- Completed evaluations, assessments, and discharge planning for geriatric population with physical and/or cognitive diagnoses.
- Worked with clients to plan and implement sessions to improve their daily function and safety within their home setting, with focus on neurological rehabilitation, including Parkinson’s disease and dementia
- Educated clients and their families about their diagnosis, therapeutic treatments and adaptations, as well as long term planning
- Ordered, educated, and implemented wide range of durable medical equipment, adaptive equipment, and assistive technology.
Occupational Therapist
Theraplay Inc.
11.2018 - 02.2021
- Completed evaluations, assessments, and discharge planning for children infant - 21 years old with varying diagnoses both in outpatient setting and via telehealth
- Planned and implemented daily sessions to address client’s needs, with concentration on pediatric feeding and sensory processing
- Provided continuing education to client’s family members and caregivers, and creating extensive home exercise programs to increase carry-over of skills, including sensory diets.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary team including physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and parents
- Participated in daily and weekly team meetings to report on patient's progress and home exercise programs
- Educated, supervised, and evaluated COTAs and OT students.
Occupational Therapy Research Assistant
Towson University
06.2017 - 01.2018
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary team to develop application that involves utilization of switch and further adaptive technology for children with spinal muscular atrophy to promote their engagement within their environment.
Education
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy -
Towson University
Towson, MD05.2018
Bachelor of Science in Occupation and Well Being -
Towson University
Towson, MD05.2017
Skills
- Patient Assessments including Shriner's Hospital Upper Extremity Evaluation
- Robotic Assistive Therapy
- Pediatric Constraint Induced Movement Therapy
- Bilateral Intensive Therapy
- Upper Extremity Serial Casting
- Problem-solving abilities
- Clinical reasoning
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Credentials And Licenses
- NBCOT Certified Occupational Therapist, #405466, 07/2018
- Licensure of Occupational Therapy, Massachusetts, #14098, June 2021
- Licensure of Occupational Therapy, New Jersey, expired 2023
- Licensure of Occupational Therapy, Delaware, expired 2022
- Licensure of Occupational Therapy, Pennsylvania, expired 2020
- American Heart Association CPR certification
Society Memberships
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
Presentations
- Pediatric Hand Study Group, 04/13/2024, Case Study: Integration of motor learning in post-operative brachial plexus: Individualized treatment approach. Presented at Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston Children’s Hospital’s Cerebral Palsy Conference, 10/10/2023, Upper Extremity CP Back to Basics. Presented with Dr. Carly Vuillermin at Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Guest lecturer, 2021-2023, Simmons University, Boston, Massachusetts. Educated Graduate Physical Therapy students on Occupational Therapy's involvement in Autism diagnosis and treatment
References
Available upon request
Timeline
Occupational Therapist I
Boston Children’s Hospital
09.2021 - Current
Occupational Therapist
Bayada Home Care
08.2020 - 09.2021
Occupational Therapist
Theraplay Inc.
11.2018 - 02.2021
Occupational Therapy Research Assistant
Towson University
06.2017 - 01.2018
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy -
Towson University
Bachelor of Science in Occupation and Well Being -
Towson University
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