Dessie L. Baker MOT, OTR/L ad3jo5@r.postjobfree.com 352-***-****

Dessie Lorine Baker, MOT, OTR/L

*** ****** *****, *******, ** 32615

ad3jo5@r.postjobfree.com

352-***-****

Professional Summary

As an experienced Cardiac ICU Occupational Therapist, I strive for patients to return to functional independence, all while in a critical care setting. During the past 10 years, I have advocated for the profession of Occupational Therapy, developed and implemented protocols on behalf of critical patients and had the opportunity to progress patients with the highest level of acuity. This included walking the first V-A ECMO in the State of Florida, the first UF Health’s patient with an axillary Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) and first Axillary Impella patient at HCA North FL Medical Regional Center.

Professional achievements

Certified to work with HeartWare, HeartMate II and III, SynCardia and PVAD patients.

Developed ECMO mobility protocol and specialized with V-V and V-A ECMO patient mobility.

Taught educational courses for ECMO specialist on progressions of mobility and UF MOT School regarding the ICU cardiovascular lectures.

Fieldwork educator to Level I and Level II OT students.

Successfully designed and employed progressions of mobility of patients with femoral lines, now implemented throughout the hospital.

Specialized in heart and lung transplants, thoracotomy, CABG, TAVR, TEVAR, AVR/TVR/MVR, IABP and Impella patient treatments.

Interdisciplinary teamwork.

Developed treatment intervention plans and discharge recommendations.

Mentor and orient new CICU PT/OT staff.

Education of RN and support tech staff on safety with patient mobility. Licensure

Florida Board of Occupational Therapy: OT15843

Experience

HCA North Florida Medical Regional Center - Gainesville, FL Occupational Therapist since December 2016 - Current Acute Care Facility over 400 beds, specializing in CVICU UF HEALTH at Shands - Gainesville, FL

Occupational Therapist July 2013 - December 2016

Acute care facility over 970 beds, specializing as Level I, Stroke comprehensive, transplant and LVAD center.

Dessie L. Baker MOT, OTR/L ad3jo5@r.postjobfree.com 352-***-**** Clinical Level II Rotations

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER - Nashville, TN January 2013 - April 2013

Acute facility with over 600 beds, specializing as a Level I Trauma and Regional Burn Center. Assigned primarily to Cardiac and Vascular floors with additional patient care services in Oncology, Neurology and Trauma. Research project and presentation on the Importance of Sternal Precautions. CHILDREN’S THERAPY NETWORK, INC. - Edgewater, FL

October 2012 - January 2013

Pediatric Care for infants (early intervention) through young adults specializing in Autism, feeding interventions and Cerebral Palsy. Research Project and Presentation - Feeding Intervention for Infants.

Education

UNIVERSITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE FOR HEALTH SCIENCES - St. Augustine, FL January 2011 - April 2013

Completed Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA - Tampa, FL

August 2008 - December 2010

Graduated with a BA in Psychology

Completed American Sign Language I and II as foreign (second) language PASCO HERNANDO STATE COLLEGE - Brooksville, FL

August 2004 - May 2008

Received Associates of Arts Degree

Certification

National Board of Occupational Therapy - Member since 2013

FLOTEC - fieldwork educator

Research experience

Femoral line and progression of mobility - CQI project that was presented at NTI 2016

Research Assistant, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of St. Augustine St. Augustine, FL Dr. Anne Hull - January 2012 - December 2012

Collaborated with faculty and students conducting a research study on Interrelated Professional Education which was presented at the FL Occupational Therapy Association Conference, 2012

Memberships

National Board of Occupational Therapy - Member Since 2013

American Occupational Therapy Association - Member since January 2011

International Honor Society in Social Sciences - Pi Gamma Mu Member since December 2009 - FL Eta Chapter Located at University of South Florida Mark A. Tulli, MD

The Cardiac and Vascular Institute

1151 NW 64

th

Terrace

Gainesville, Fl 32605

4/15/23

To whom it may concern:

I am writing this letter in support of Dessie Baker as she applies for a position in your program. I have worked with Dessie since she joined our CVICU team in 2016. When she made the transition from the University of Florida program to our cardiac team, I could instantly tell she was a capable, compassionate team member who was always available for our patients and providers.

Our CVICU program is a comprehensive cardiovascular center where complex patients with CABG, surgical and transcatheter valve procedures, cardiogenic shock, mechanical circulatory support (including ECMO, IABP and Impella), vascular surgery, post-myocardial infarction patients are managed on a daily basis. Dessie’s capabilities in helping recover these patients has been impressive. She has embraced the culture of early ambulation postop and helped patients recover quicker and more completely than if she and her team had not been involved. Thousands of patients have benefited from her expertise.

Her compassion to help these patients in the CVICU has been unmatched. To watch her work with these critically ill patients postoperatively has been inspirational. She has always been a positive influence on these patients who often times need that push to recover successfully and live a healthy life after discharge.

Dessie has always made herself available for our patients, so much so, that she provided us with her cell phone number to call when we had special requests for our cardiac patients. It was during one of these exchanges about frailty testing for a preop TAVR patient that I learned she was leaving our program.

I was very sad to hear she was moving on, but feel very strongly that she will be an all star at whatever program she decides to join. I give Dessie my highest recommendation, without reservation. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions. Sincerely,

Mark A. Tulli, MD

Director of Structural Heart, TCAVI

Office : 352-***-****

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