Megan graduated from Marquette University with a BS in Exercise Science and a Psychology Minor in 2010, then obtained a MS in Occupational Therapy from Indiana University in 2012. In her initial years as an occupational therapist, she worked in a multitude of settings focused on adult populations, including acute care, long term care, work site injury prevention, and outpatient ortho/neuro/post-concussion, but always felt drawn to mental and behavioral health, wellness, and pain management. She also has extensive experience working with the geriatric population. In 2017, Megan completed certification as a Therapeutic Pain Specialist, then in 2020 achieving her Fellowship in Pain Sciences, both through Evidence in Motion. In addition, she has certification as an Applied Prevention Health Promotion Therapist. She practices at St. Luke’s Health System in Boise, ID and used these skills initially to provide holistic pain treatment in an inpatient therapist role, also providing routine training in pain related topics to both nursing and therapy staff. In 2023, she transitioned to the role of Rehabilitation Clinical Program Manager for St. Luke’s new multidisciplinary outpatient chronic pain program, of which she also provides the occupational therapy services. Megan thrives on being a mentor and educator to others, hosting level II fieldwork students every chance she gets, and routinely presents locally and nationally on pain and wellness topics within the scope of both occupational therapy and a broader healthcare audience. She is also INCREDIBLY passionate and truly in love with the scope of practice that occupational therapy provides, and this is exactly why she became involved with IOTA, first via the Tech Committee to support the creation of the first multi-state virtual conference IOTA has ever put on in 2020, then President-Elect from 2020 to 2022, and now President from 2022 to 2024. Her passion is fueled each and every day by her husband, Joe who works full time as a Major in the National Guard, and her two children, 8 year old James and 5 year old Morgan.

Daniel grew up in Sacramento, CA where he received his BS in Kinesiology at California State University Sacramento in 2008. He went on to receive a master’s degree from the Occupational Therapy program at the University of Utah in 2011. Most of his professional career has been providing services to the geriatric population, while working in skilled nursing and home health settings. He achieved the Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) designation through the National Association of Homebuilder’s (NAHB) and has worked alongside contractors in his community to improve occupational performance through modifications to physical environments. Daniel values ongoing education and constantly searches for opportunities to serve the underserved. After recently transitioning to a role in the hospice line of services, Daniel quickly discovered a unique opportunity for the profession of occupational therapy to provide meaningful therapy services to individuals and their family members during the terminal stages of life. He has taken a special interest in OT’s role in pediatric palliative and hospice care and hopes to contribute to the profession’s growth and body of research to providing services to this precious population. He is excited to be joining the IOTA as its Vice President, and contributing to the growth and support of occupational therapy practitioners within the state. In his spare time, Daniel enjoys adventures with his family, and completing restoration projects around his house.

Born and raised in east Idaho, Brooke Blanchard, age 30,
moved to Pocatello in 2012, where I graduated from Idaho State University with an AAS in Occupational Therapy Assistant 2018 and a BS in Health Science in 2021. I met David, a Pocatello native, in 2014. After graduating college, we quickly decided to start a family, now raising 3 young boys under the age of 4. I have worked in various healthcare settings as a COTA and a CNA throughout my healthcare career. We enjoy traveling and adventuring with our kids in our camper or fishing on the boat in my spare time. We spend a lot of time outside with our 2 dogs, a Border Collie trained in agility and a bully breed mix trained as a social companion for the elderly. This fall, I have recently decided to pursue a graduate degree in Health Informatics. I found my love for occupational therapy while working in a skilled nursing facility, where I helped implement a program with a patient-centered approach to patients with dementia. I love to help people understand that patients with dementia still have a lot of life left; we just have to re-formulate our thought processes to see life through the eyes of our patients. Working throughout the pandemic has brought to my attention the limitations our healthcare system has, not just for our patients but for us as practitioners. I want to help make a difference in healthcare, for our patients, our profession, for us!

Graduated with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2012 from Washington University in Saint Louis, MO. She began her career working in various rehabilitation settings in North Carolina and Minnesota with a focus on rehabilitation of neurological disorders, working as the lead therapist on a neuro team at the Mayo Clinic. She is a Certified Neuro-Developmental Treatment (CNDT) specialist and Board Certified in Physical Rehabilitation (BCPR) through the American Occupational Therapy Association. Her love for travel and adventure has led to clinical work in Haiti and Guatemala, and recently led her to Idaho as a traveling therapist where she worked with the hospital systems and now works in Twin Falls. She lives with her husband Eric, her son Samuel, and golden retriever Bert in Twin Falls and enjoys exploring the adventures Idaho has to offer. She looks forward to working with IOTA in the Treasurer position.

Lisa Baxter Hong is a native of Eastern Idaho. She graduated from Idaho State University’s MOT program and has worked in the area since then in several areas including skilled nursing, home health and outpatient. She started an OT contracting business, Generations Occupational Therapy in 2010 and has developed it into a solid member of the OT community. Lisa worked previously in ISU’s MOT program teaching and providing outpatient services. While there, she earned her doctorate in OT from Eastern Kentucky University. Her passion area within OT has been dementia care, especially caregiver support and education. She has enjoyed giving presentations with the Alzheimer’s Association in the area, and presenting to OT and other practitioners on the state and national level. While studying in the OTD program, she realized the need for more advocacy within the profession and has been getting her feet wet in that area. Aside from OT, Lisa loves spending time with her family, including her three adorable grandchildren, playing volleyball and oboe, and traveling.

My name is Cameo Curnutt and I currently live and work in Pocatello as a COTA with Infinity Rehab at the Veterans Home. There the therapy staff has been known to call me “The Charmer” regarding my patient care. It started back in sixth grade when I honed my communication and organization skills to win the class election to become the class Track 3C secretary while selling keychains to my classmates for extra candy money. Additionally, I am a practicing cosmetologist, barber, and a server. I am a mother to a beautiful first grader who is just as unique as me! My core values include altruism, integrity, grit, efficiency, individualism, authenticity, education, and resiliency! Achievements I’ve earned consist of graduating Valedictorian of my high school class, active on the intercollegiate ISU Debate Team at Pi Kappa Delta Nationals Comprehensive Tournament and earning 3rd place in sweeps, elected secretary for the ISU Debate Team, invited to be on the Buffalo Wild Wings Training Team to uphold customer service standards at three national restaurants, a successful weekly event planner for single-adults in my area, and the mother of a 6-year-old brown belt in karate. I enjoy people, learning, baking, and living a wholesome life body, mind, and soul and am a proud but wild member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Lauren attended Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana for her BS in Elementary Education. During this time she began working for a non-profit organization providing services for adults with developmental disabilities. Upon graduating, she spent three years teaching fourth grade and a junior high PE class while continuing her work with adults. It was during this time, Lauren learned of her passion for teaching and helping people be independent and interact with the community. She then discovered occupational therapy, and she decided to go back to school. She went to University of North Dakota at their Casper, WY campus where she received her BA in General Studies with an emphasis in Health Sciences in 2014 and MOT in 2015. Since becoming an occupational therapist, Lauren has primarily worked in acute care, but has spent time working in inpatient rehab, subacute rehab, outpatient neuro, and as a traveler. Lauren enjoys traveling, being active, and spending time with her dog, Fritz. She has continued her love of education and learning and looks forward to contributing experience as the continuing education chair.

Ivan graduated from the Idaho State University Occupational Therapy Masters Program in 2007 and has been working in the Twin Falls, Idaho area since, with a focus in pediatrics (outpatient and school based). He has been a local and statewide presenter with his first presentation out of state in the spring of 2023. Education of the public, both families and professionals, has always been a passion and a focus of his professional career. He has been a fieldwork educator for over 20 level I and II students, for occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs in Idaho and surrounding states. He has also been a mentor for numerous high school students and helped many of those discover a passion for occupational therapy as a future career. He has served as the president of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Idaho State University Occupational Therapy Assistant program and continues to serve as a board member of that committee. He has been supported by his wife, Tricia, since their marriage in 2001, and is the father to five children. Outside of his role as an occupational therapist, he is a woodworker, live stage actor, soccer coach, vocal musician, and community volunteer. Occupation makes the world meaningful, and Ivan is passionate about promoting occupation in all its many forms to improve lives wherever he can reach.

Catie is an occupational therapy practitioner with nearly 20 years of clinical and academic experience. Catie graduated from Russell Sage College and the Sage Graduate School with a Masters in Occupational Therapy. She began working clinically in adult hospital and rehab settings including skilled nursing, acute care, and inpatient rehab. In 2020, Catie joined the faculty at Idaho State University where she has served various roles including as a visiting instructor, the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, and now the Department Chair and Program Director for the Master of Occupational Therapy Program. In 2023, Catie earned her Doctor of Occupational Therapy from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions (IHP) in Boston, MA. It is at the IHP where Catie grew her interest in guiding the profession related to advocacy, legislation, policy, and ethics. Given this interest, Catie felt that the open RA position for the state of Idaho was “a sign” calling to her to get involved. As a delegate in the RA, Catie is able to take these interest to meet the needs of OT practitioners, community partners and consumers, and may others to help lead the profession forward. Aside from her professional career, Catie is married to a supportive spouse and has twin college age children. She and her family enjoy traveling, ice hockey, and are developing a new love for the collegiate Woodman competitions which here daughter has been participating in!

Kari Thompson is a pediatric occupational therapist and the owner of The Children’s Therapy & Learning Center in Eagle, ID. She holds a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, is AOTA Board Certified in Pediatrics, is Sensory Integration (SIPT) Certified, holds an Advanced Practice Certificate in Swallowing, and is a Certified Autism Specialist. Kari has been practicing for 20 years and has extensive experience working with children in acute and out-patient rehabilitative settings, sensory integration clinics, school and home-based settings and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Kari has lectured extensively at educational the association conferences, professional and teacher in-service trainings, and parenting groups locally, nationally, and internationally.