Cindy Blackwell
TNOTA President
Dr. Cindy DeRuiter Blackwell is the president of the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association. She earned her MS and post-professional OTD degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Blackwell is a pediatric practitioner who has worked in a variety of pediatric settings. She is an AOTA Emerging Leader (2014).
Susan McDonald
TNOTA Guest Instructor
Susan S. McDonald, Ed.D, OTR/L. Susan is an Associate Professor and Founding Chair of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Occupational Therapy Department. She received her doctorate from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, her master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, and her bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. During her career she has served numerous leadership roles in state associations, including President, President-Elect, District Chairperson, and Legislative Chairperson. She also served as a member and Chairperson of a State Regulatory Board. She provides education to hundreds of therapists throughout the state on the topic of ethics and jurisprudence. She has served on numerous boards serving children and families. She has worked independently and in collaboration with others to expand the knowledge base of occupational therapy.
Stephanie Lancaster, EdD, OTR/L, ATP, CAPS, CDP
TNOTA Guest Instructor
Stephanie has been an OT practitioner for 30 years. She moved from full-time clinical practice into academia in 2013 and now serves as the program director and as assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Occupational Therapy Department in Memphis. Stephanie serves as Vice Chair of the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) and is the representative for the AOTA Representative Assembly for the state of Tennessee. In addition, she hosts a podcast called “On The air“ for individuals interested in occupational therapy. Her research interests center on the impact of technology in the clinical and educational arenas with an emphasis on instructional design and technology in teaching and learning for learners with diverse needs.
Mary Barnes, MOT, CHT
TNOTA Guest Instructor
Mary Collier Barnes, MOT, CHT has been an Occupational Therapist for almost 40 years and a Certified Hand Therapist for 25 years, working primarily in outpatient orthopedics. She has volunteered internationally with Health Care Volunteers Overseas and locally at TSU’s Tiger Clinic. She is the recipient of the AAHS Vargus Grant for an International Hand Therapy mission to Africa. She is an instructor for ASHT’s Foundations Course and Hands on Orthotics courses. She is a member of ASHT’s Education Division and Project Lead for Education on Tour. She is TNOTA’s Continuing Education Chair. She is the former Chair of the Occupational and Physical Therapy Board of Examiners. She is the recipient of many awards including “Therapist of the Year”, “Pioneer Award”, “Volunteer of the Year” and the “Award of Excellence”.
