Mississippi Occupational Therapy Association

10/14/2026

🎉🎉🎉

🎉 OT Compact Update!

As of October 5, two new states participating in the OT Compact Agreement - both neighboring Tennessee - have enacted OT Compact privileges: Mississippi and Arkansas!

Beginning October 5, individuals who live and hold an active OT or OTA license in Mississippi or Arkansas can obtain Compact privileges to practice in other OT Compact states that are also issuing privileges:

📍 Indiana
📍 Maryland
📍 Minnesota
📍 Ohio
📍 Virginia
📍 West Virginia
📍 Wisconsin

This expansion provides even more opportunities for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to practice across state lines through the OT Compact.

For information about eligibility and the application process, visit the “Before You Apply for an OT Compact Privilege” page at www.otcompact.org.

10/07/2026

🎉MSOTA is seeking nominations for Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer Elect! 🎉

These are elected positions by the membership and those elected will take office in January of the upcoming year. 🗳️

The Vice President serves a one-year term before transitioning to a one-year term as President-Elect then transitioning to a two-year term as President. This office is, ultimately, a four-year term commitment.

Minimum qualifications include the following: must be a resident of Mississippi at the time of nomination and the duration of the elected term, must be a MSOTA member and in good standing with the Association, and must have served at least one year on the board, a committee or task force for the board, or in a supporting capacity to the board (i.e. Advisory Council).✅

*Please see MSOTA emails sent September 21st and 29th for responsibilities.*

The Secretary/Treasurer Elect is also a one-year training position for MSOTA Secretary/Treasurer followed by a two-year term as the Secretary/Treasurer.

Minimum qualifications include the following: must be a resident of Mississippi at the time of nomination and the duration of the elected term and must be a MSOTA member; in good standing with the Association ✅

*Please see MSOTA Email sent September 21st and 29th for responsibilities.*

Nominations should be submitted by email to Amanda Jordan, MSOTA Executive Director, at 📧mississippiota.gmail.com and should include a short bio of the nominee as well as a brief explanation of the nominee's qualifications. The cut off date for nominations is October 19, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact Amanda at the email address indicated above.
--
Amanda L. Jordan, OTR/L
MSOTA Executive Director
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 601-853-9564
E-Fax: 601-500-5757

10/02/2026

MSOTA Coastal District Chair, Tanner Lee, is hosting a District Meeting/Free CEU Event on Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 6:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m. This event will be held at The SPOT Therapy located at 6514 Hwy 90 in Gautier, MS 39553.

Speakers Donna Stauter and Dr. Sue Somerland will present "Low Tech - High Impact: A Make and Take Workshop on Building Switches and Battery Interrupters for Adapted Toys and Everyday Devices." Participants will make their own, individual adapted switch and a battery interrupter to use with a AA or AAA battery powered toy or device. Participants will also apply case scenarios to daily practice and leave prepared to use their switch in the clinic the next day.

This meeting is open and free for all to attend. MSOTA members only will receive a certificate for 2.0 CEU hours immediately following the event. Pre-registration is required by October 13, 2026, due to the need to order supplies and have them available for attendees by the time of the event. Click the link below to access the MSOTA website and register on-line.

https://www.mississippiota.org/upcoming-ce-events

09/25/2026

🎉🎉Attention MSOTA Members and MS OT practitioners! 🎉🎉

We appreciate your support of MSOTA as we, in collaboration with our lobbyist, have worked diligently to make this possible! Please see the following announcement from MSDH for details about the Occupational Therapist Licensure Compact.
(Check your email for easy access to attached links.) 🔗

“Dear Licensee:

The Mississippi State Department of Health is pleased to announce that Mississippi will officially join the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact (OTCC) on October 5, 2026.

The OTCC provides an expedited pathway for eligible occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to obtain authorization to practice across participating compact member states, subject to the Compact’s eligibility requirements.

Background Check Requirement: Please be advised that completion of a comprehensive background check through the Mississippi State Department of Health is required before a licensee will be eligible to participate in the OTCC per Rule 4.5 of the Occupational Therapy Compact Commission Rules

You can visit Background Checks - Mississippi State Department of Health and refer to the instructions listed under “Professional Licensure Background Checks”.

Important Date: Licensees in Mississippi will be able to begin applying for privileges for the OTCC on Monday, October 5, 2026.

We encourage all licensees interested in practicing under the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact to review the requirements and complete any outstanding requirements in advance of the go-live date.

Thank you for your cooperation as Mississippi begins its participation in the OTCC.

Sincerely,

Mississippi State Department of Health
Bureau of Professional Licensure
📧: [email protected]
📞: 601) 364-7360”

09/15/2026

Happy Rehabilitation Awareness Week! 🎉

Rehabilitation of the whole person often involves a multidisciplinary approach. Whether it’s promoting independence through occupational therapy interventions, empowering functional movement through physical therapy participation, or building connection through speech therapy—we collaborate to serve communities and foster meaningful participation in life.

You are appreciated! 💪💙🦽🏋️🗣️

Tag 🏷️ us in your rehab week activities!

08/20/2026

The Meridian District invites you to join us for a new event: “Panel of Pearls: Clinical Pearls for Everyday Practice.”This free event will take place on August 29, 2026, at Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center - North Campus, in Meridian, MS, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.

Attendees will have the opportunity to sit down with experts to ask questions, learn practical strategies, and gain insights or “pearls” that can be applied directly to everyday practice. Our panel of experienced occupational therapy practitioners represent a variety of practice settings and specialties that include upper extremity/physical rehabilitation, pediatrics, early intervention, lymphedema, and more!

For many OT practitioners working in rural areas like our district, it can be easy to feel professionally isolated or limited in available resources. Our goal is to help change this narrative. Beyond the invaluable knowledge to be gained, this event is designed to foster meaningful connections, encourage collaboration, and strengthen our OT practitioner community in a supportive, judgment-free environment.Whether you’re a new practitioner or seasoned clinician, you don’t want to miss this opportunity!

We hope you’ll join us for what promises to be an engaging and insightful discussion. Attendance is open and free to all. MSOTA members only will receive a 2.0 hour continuing education certificate that will be provided immediately following the event. Pre-registration is currently open for this event online and on-site registration is also available. Please arrive early to complete the registration process.

If you have questions regarding this event, please feel free to reach out to Meridian District Co-Chair Sarah Whinery, OTD, OTR/L at [email protected].

Parking Instructions: Park in the parking garage; from the parking garage, take the elevator to level G (garage); follow the arrows - turn left off the elevator, walk down the hallway and turn left again to enter to the Auditorium at the end of the hallwayAddress: 2124 14th St. Meridian, MS, 39301 (North Campus with the parking garage)

https://www.mississippiota.org/upcoming-ce-events

07/28/2026

🎉 Celebrating Mississippi Occupational Therapy Association! 🎉

We are proud to share that MSOTA was recognized by the Affiliated State Association Presidents (ASAP) the 2026 Professional Development Award for our outstanding commitment to advancing professional development during this year’s conference weekend. 🏆

This recognition was presented at the 2026 ASAP Annual Meeting during AOTA Inspire 2026 in Anaheim, California, where state associations from across the country were honored for their dedication to strengthening the occupational therapy profession.

📸 Pictured (4th from the left): Courtney Everett, Mississippi Occupational Therapy Association President-Elect, and Peter Giroux, Mississippi Occupational Therapy Association President, celebrating this incredible achievement alongside fellow ASAP award recipients. ❤️

Congratulations to everyone whose hard work and dedication made this recognition possible! Together, we continue to elevate the occupational therapy profession and invest in the growth of practitioners across Mississippi. 🫱🏾‍🫲🏼💙

Read more about the award and the outstanding work of state occupational therapy associations here: check comments for link ✅

07/21/2026

Join MSOTA Coastal District Co-Chairs Tanner Lee and Dalton Frederick as they host a free continuing education event on July 30, 2026 from 6:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m at Encompass Health and Rehab in Gulfport, MS. Christa Anderson, OTR/L, will speak on "The Hemiplegic Upper Extremity: Treatment and Management of Shoulder Subluxation While Promoting Functional Recovery."

This session will provide participants with the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to effectively evaluate, treat, and manage shoulder subluxation in individuals following stroke (CVA). Participants will learn to identify the most common types and causes of shoulder subluxation, recognize its clinical presentation, and implement evidence-based treatment and management strategies throughout the rehabilitation process and amongst various settings.

The course will include instruction and demonstration of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and therapeutic taping techniques to support shoulder alignment and function. Additionally, participants will gain an understanding of the Functional Upper Extremity Levels (FUEL) assessment, including its administration and application to writing functional, patient-centered treatment goals.

This event is open and free for all to attend. Food will be provided. MSOTA members only will receive a continuing education certificate for 2.0 contact hours immediately following the event. Pre-registration is required. Click the link below to register online.

https://www.mississippiota.org/upcoming-ce-events

07/21/2026

MSOTA North District Co-Chairs Kelli Greer and Lauren Beard are hosting a District Meeting/Free CEU Event on July 30, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Loco Taco in Tupelo, MS (1645 N. Coley Road). Recent UMMC OT graduates Emily Ogelsby and Kaki Tucker will present their capstone projects during this meeting.

The first hour of this meeting/CEU event is social/networking/meeting time that will not be counted toward the continuing education credits. Appetizers will be provided. Attendees are welcome to purchase a full meal if desired.
Emily Ogelsby is a recent UMMC graduate and she will present her capstone project from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: "Empowering Caregivers to Support Preschool Development." This presentation will focus on preparing parents of pre-school aged children for school and self-care. It will also provide information and resources for a teacher/occupational therapist's tool-kit for carryover into elementary school.

Kaki Tucker is a recent UMMC graduate and she will present her capstone project from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: "Supporting Student Participation and Independence: Implementing an Occupational Therapy Resource Binder for Sensory, ADL, and Fine Motor Skills in Special Education Classrooms." This presentation will focus on resources included in the binder for special education teachers and occupational therapists to aid in decreasing a students screen time and more opportunities for hands-on learning in the classroom setting.

Attendance is open and free to all. MSOTA members only will receive a 1.0 hour continuing education certificate that will be provided immediately following the event. Pre-registration is required. Click the link below to register online.

https://www.mississippiota.org/upcoming-ce-events

05/21/2026

MSOTA Spotlight:
Rashida Sturgis, Ph.D., MOT, OTR/L, CAIP 🎉

Dr. Rashida Sturgis has been a practicing Occupational Therapy professional for many years. She has practiced her craft in the areas of acute care, skilled nursing, and the public school system in Mississippi and Texas. She also worked as a college professor for Tulane University for over ten years in the Kinesiology department. 🏥🎓

Additionally, for nearly seven years she has been immersed in the mental health field where she is dedicated to helping individuals with complex emotional and psychological challenges to enhance functional performance to daily life. 🧠💚

What makes OT in mental health so important?

“Mental Health is the state of social, emotional, and psychological well-being. 🧘🏽‍♀️🧘

Occupational Therapy is essential to mental health as the profession has been rooted in the field of psychiatry since its inception. The profession sought to replace the idleness of earlier treatment with routines that are healthy, meaningful, and client centered. 🫱🏾‍🫲🏼❤️

Occupational Therapy is predicated on the theory of mind-body unity which emphasizes that the mind and body work in concert with one another to promote health and healing. ❤️‍🩹

Henceforth, the profession emphasizes the need for individuals to actively engage in activities that provide meaning and purpose to daily life. To be specific, active engagement in occupations promotes, facilitates, and maintains overall mental well-being.🏀🪥🍽️👖👶

Lastly, The American Occupational Therapy Association supports the profession as being included in the federal definition of behavioral and mental health professionals which further validates its importance. (AOTA, 2014b).” 👏🏽 🙂‍↕️

What would you like to see in this area of practice in the next 50 years?

“Over the next 50 years, I would like to envision Occupational Therapy in mental health as a standard part of the interdisciplinary behavioral health treatment team in both traditional and non-traditional settings. Occupational Therapists play a vital role in connecting mental, physical, emotional, and social health.” 🌎💆🏽‍♀️❤️