Resume

**** ** **** *****

Gainesville, FL *****

Ryan M. Peterson, OTR/L, CLVT, COMS, M.Ed.

Cell: 518-***-****

Email: adyaki@r.postjobfree.com

EDUCATION:

Utica College of Syracuse University, B.S., Occupational Therapy (1996-2000)

University of Massachusetts Boston, (2013-2015) Vision Studies with specialty in Orientation & Mobility and Master’s degree in Education

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION:

The University of the State of NY Education Department - Occupational Therapy License #011026-1 (2001-2018)

State of Florida Department of Health – Occupational Therapy License #OT19501 (2018-present)

The University of the State of NY Education Department - Occupational Therapy Certification #1047024 (2001-2018) *Practice Area of Emphasis: Rehabilitation - (OTR/L)

Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP)

Certified Low Vision Therapist

Certification #6289 (April 27, 2012 to present)

Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP)

Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Certification #21677 (June 6, 2016 to present)

CURRENT POSITIONS:

Dates April 2021 – Present

Position: Chief, Blind Rehabilitation Services, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Department, North Florid / South Georgia VA Medical Center

Visual Impairment Services Team Coordinator

Location: North Florida / South Georgia VA Medical Center, 5533 SW 64th Street, Gainesville, FL 32608

Duties: Supervise a staff of social workers, Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Therapists, Low Vision Therapists and Visual Impairment Services Team Coordinators (VISTs) promoting access to care for Veterans. Write and integrate policies & procedures for emergency management and various clinical procedures for inpatient, outpatient, and home care standards. Participate in Joint Commission and CARF tracer activities, organize and interpret data for process improvement. Train staff in best practices related to individual certification areas and National Blind Rehabilitation Memorandums. Continue to increase access to interdisciplinary treatment plans between Blind Rehabilitation staff and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Services such as Recreation Therapy, Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy.

Dates August 2018 – April 2021

Position: Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist / Occupational Therapist

Location: North Florida / South Georgia VA Medical Center, 5533 SW 64th Street, Gainesville, FL 32608

Duties: Independent practitioner responsible for referral management of a large caseload of Veterans where I provided Orientation & Mobility Training, Low Vision Therapy, and Occupational Therapy in the home setting. Responsible for coordinating travel, ordering prosthetic items, delivering items and completing training based on SMART goals using a Veteran-centric and team-collaboration approach to treatment planning.

Dates November 2008-July 2018

Position: Blind Rehabilitation Specialist/Occupational Therapist

Location: Stratton VA Medical Center, 113 Holland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208

Duties:

Review intake information on veterans with visual impairment and make recommendations for other team referrals. Develop rehabilitation plans with veteran and team to promote admission to other areas in the continuum of care (Westhaven Blind Rehabilitation Center). Work closely with other disciplines (i.e., co-treatments) to promote use of low vision aids and strategies for diabetic management, and to assist in prioritizing audiology referrals for veterans with dual sensory impairments. Work with family to help them understand a variety of visual impairments and how low vision therapy can promote independence and safety while achieving life goals.

Work closely with low vision rehabilitation team and appropriate in-patient/outpatient staff for both low vision and polytrauma/TBI cases. Subject expert in the areas of low vision andTBI/polytrauma vision therapy - consultant to other disciplines (i.e., speech therapy, occupational therapy, and driving rehabilitation) to provided specific strategies related to visual impairment and cognition

Train veterans/family in the appropriate and safe use of adaptive devices. Work closely with Education Committee for accessibility and communication issues related to visual impairment (i.e., how to make patient/family training materials accessible). Active participant in community, hospital, VISN 2, and national activities to promote low vision awareness, program development, use of patient feedback, access to low vision services, advocacy, and productivity

Dates 2011-2017

Position: Occupational Therapist

Location: Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital, Schenectady, NY

Duties: Per Diem Occupational Therapist; treat on all units to include neuro, brain injury, physical disabilities, cardiac, pulmonary, orthopedic, pediatrics.

Dates: 2000-2008

Position: Occupational Therapist, Traumatic Brain Injury, Vision Specialist, Outpatient

Location: Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital, Schenectady, NY

Duties: In-patient care on stroke/traumatic brain injury units, coordinated eye clinic for Behavioral Optometrist for both in and out-patients, worked with variety of diagnosis and age levels on an outpatient basis. Provided home care services using a team approach to perform DME and pre-discharge assessments in the home.

Achievements:

*Co-leader of Blinded and Low-Vision Veteran's Support Group (2012-2018)

*Co-chair of the Persons With Disabilities Committee, EEO Special Emphasis Group (May 2013- 2018)

*Employment and Retention sub-committee; National Committee with VHA: (2015-present)

*Member of Fall Committee (2012 - 2018t)

*Student Fieldwork Educator for Level I and Level II Occupational Therapy Students (2011-present)

*Patient Education Committee - Liason for Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation: developed handout for staff regarding purpose of committee and received approval for low vision brochure (2010-2011)

*Award of Excellence - for dedicated service to veterans and the community. This award was presented by the Lead Physician of Rehabilitation for receiving positive feedback from a patient who sent a letter to the director of the hospital praising the services they received at the Intermediate Low Vision Clinic

*Recipient of Academic Support Funding(Spring 2013 - 2015) – received Master’s in Education

*Intermediate Low Vision Clinic - Patient Advocate Liason

*Implemented pre/post outcomes plan to measure Activities of Daily Living Skills before and after low vision therapy services and working to implement follow-up outcomes plan

*Organize all low vision staff meetings

*CARF:

*aligning low vision clinic strategic plan with hospital and VISN 2, and national goals

*pre/post outcomes planning

*policy/procedure development - integrating new standards

*assist with implementation of USpek Survey (National Satisfaction Survey)

*Lead on coordinating CARF meetings; CARF accreditation achieved; granted for 3 years

*Asked by Central Office to be a “trainer” for other low vision clinics seeking accreditation

*Participant for 6 week Smart Start Program (college prep class offered to patients with TBI in conjunction with Speech Therapy Department) - presented lecture to class on vision and learning, test taking strategies, and advocacy (2012)

Achievements (Non-VA):

*Member, 2012, New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA)

*Participant in "ACVREP CLVT Certification Examination Blueprint Survey" - provided feedback for development of future certification exam (4/8/13)

*Served on the New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA) Special Interest Section (SIS) for low vision topics (2012)

*Member of Advisory Board for OTA Program, Maria College - subject expert for low vision as it relates to curriculum and fieldwork process(2010)

*Received grant for low vision education from Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital (NY state) and built and Outpatient and Home Care Occupational Therapy Vision Program (2005) – the program is still in existence today.

Presentations:

*Presentation to South Eastern Orientation & Mobility (SOMA) Association: “Use of Intrinsic Motivation Strategies when teaching O&M,” (December 2020)

*Presentation to UF Doctoral Students: “Rebuilding Lives Through Low Vision Rehabilitation in Occupational Therapy,” (2020, 2022)

*Presentation to "Matter of Balance" Program at the Center for Excellence in Aging Services on low vision and fall prevention, (11/19/2009)

*Russell Sage College - Case Study presentation to Graduate Students (4/1/13)

*Maria College - "Rebuilding Lives Through Vision Rehabilitation" present two times a year to accommodate regular day and weekend students (yearly 2009-present)

*New York State Optometry Association 117th NYSOA Congress & Annual Meeting, Cooperstown, NY - panel expert with President of New York State OT Association (NYSOTA) and individual presentation to Optometry House of Delegates to discuss relations between Optometrists and Occupational Therapists ("Prospectus," Volume 38, Number 3, 2012)

Publications:

Published author in "Prospectus," a publication by the New York State Optometric Association (NYSOA) - "The Benefits of Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Vision Rehabilitation" (Prospectus, Volume 39, Number 1, 2013)

References: provided upon request

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