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    Maryland Department of Health
    Board of Occupational Therapy Practice

    Board of Occupational Therapy Practice History

    I.  History of Occupational Therapy 

    II.  Inception and Mission of the Board

    III.  Get to Know Your Board Members

    IV.  Past/Present Board Members

    V.  Administrative History of Statute and Regulations

     

    I.    History of Occupational Therapy

        A.  Age of Enlightenment:  late 1700's and early 1800's

        B.  Moral Treatment Movement

    1.  Phillippe Pinel, a French physician, introduced 'work treatment' for the 'insane' in the late 1700's.  He used occupation to divert the patients' minds away from their emotional distrubances and toward improving their skills.
    2. William Tuke, an English Quaker and wealthy merchant, became aware of the terrible conditions in an asylum in York, England.  He suggested establishing the York Retreat.  The environment at the York retreat was like that of a family where the patients were approached with kindness and consideration.  These methods were preferable to using restraint and drugs.
    3. In the United States, a Quaker named Benjamin Rush was the first physician to institute Moral Treatment practices.  (Coincidentally, the Maryland Board of Occupational Therapy is located in the Bland Bryant Building, 4th Floor, on the campus of Spring Grove Hospital Center.)
    4. Susan Tracy and other professionals formed the backbone of modern occupational therapy and eventally leading to the present day American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

    II.    Inception and Mission of the Board

        A.    Inception:  

                        The Board of Occupational Therapy Practice was established in Maryland in 1979.

        B.    Program Description:  

    The State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice (the 'Board') operates under the provisions of Title 10 of the Health Occupations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The Board is the licensing authority of Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapist Assistants in the State of Maryland. The Board is mandated to regulate the practice of Occupational Therapy in Maryland by licensing qualified occupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants, establishing fees, maintaining a current roster of all licensees, promulgating regulations for the practice of Occupational Therapy, verification of credentials, issuance of licenses, establish requirements for and verification of completion of continuing education, investigation of complaints based on alleged violations of regulations and statutes, formal and informal disciplining of licensees, create committees as deemed appropriate to advise the Board. The program is 100% special funded. The fund is supported exclusively by revenues generated by licensing fees. The Board consists of 7 members appointed by the Governor with the advice of the Secretary and advice of the Senate. Four members of the Board are licensed occupational therapists, one member is a licensed occupational therapist assistant, and two members represent the public.

      C.    Mission:                    

    The Mission of the Board of Occupational Therapy is to protect the citizens of Maryland and to promote quality health care in the field of Occupational Therapy by:

    1. Licensing occupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants;
    2. Setting standards for the practice of Occupational Therapy through regulations and legislation; and
    3. Receiving and resolving complaints from the public regarding occupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants who may have violated the Occupational Therapy law (Annotated Code of Maryland, Health Occupations Article, Title 10) and its regulations found at COMAR 10.46.

    III.  Get to Know Your Board Members

      1. Joyce Ford, COTA/L, Board Chairperson

        I am a licensed and certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.  I graduated from CCBC, Catonsville Campus, from the OTA Program with an AA degree.  I have been practicing OT for 15 years in the field of Physical Disabilities and Mental Health in Maryland.  My specialties include Physical Disabilities, Chronic Pain Management, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Health and Wellness.  I have published several articles in 'OT Practice' magazine on 'Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Relaxation and Breathing Retraining' and 'Using Aromatherapy in Traditional OT'.  I am President of Body Repairs, LLC (Private Practice - Outpatient and Homecare).  I hold PRN positions in several nursing homes in Baltimore and work part-time at Good Samaritan Hospital as a staff COTA.  I am a Level I and Level II clinical supervisor for OTA students.  I am a (CDI) Certified Driving Instructor for adults and teens.

      2. Christine Moghimi, MAS, OTR/L, Board Vice Chairperson 

        I have been an Occupational Therapist for 26 years.  I have worked in a variety of settings:  mental health, pediatrics, subacute, acute care, acute rehab, home care, outpatient, and long-term care.  I have a masters of administrative science degree from Johns Hopkins University, and am currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Occupational Science at Towson University.  I am currently the director of rehabilitation services at Manor Care, and a part-time faculty member at Towson University.

      3. Kuzhilethu K. Kshepakaran, M.Ed., OTR/L

        Occupational Therapy has been my life's occupation for the last 48 years.  I got into this profession by accident.  However, over the years, I have grown to like it more and more.  My professional life began in India, where my roots are, and have continued in the United States since 1969.  Currently, I am semi-retired, occasionally working with patients or teaching an OT course now and then at Towson University.  I started my clinical practice in the United States as a staff therapist and advanced to managerial levels.  In my teaching career, which spans 22 years, I started as an instructor and ended as a chairperson of an OT professional program.  Highlights of my involvement in the profession include serving as Accreditation Evaluator for AOTA, a representative of AOTA's Representative Assembly, and as an item writer for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

      4. Kamala Stevenson, MS, OTR/L

        I have a Bachelors of Science degree in Human Development/Child Psychology from Howard University.  I hold a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Towson University.  I am a Gulf War veteran and have been on the Board for over 1 year.  

      5. Meenakshi D. Gupta, Consumer Board Member

        I have been a consumer member on the Maryland Occupational Therapy Board for a year.  I was born and raised in India.  I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology, Botany and Chemistry from Delhi University, India.  I moved to the United States in 1979 and have been a legal assistant for 30 years.  My proudest achievements in life include my two children.  My daughter is a practicing lawyer, and my son is studying to become a doctor.

      6. Jocelind M. Julien, Consumer Member

        As the director and chief mediator for the Mediation Center for Anne Arundel County State's Attorney's Office in Glen Burnie, I oversee all phases of office operations and dispute resolution services for the State's Attorney's Office, as well as mediate a high volume of criminal cases deferred from prosecution.  I have served as a mediator and facilitator for over 8 years and have designed and delivered trainings in such areas as conflict resolution, respect, sexual harassment, and risk management briefings for interview panelists.  In addition, I instituted statewide affirmative action and equal employment opportunity programs in accordance with federal and state regulations.  My compassion toward human conflict and my ability to facilitate communication between parties and help people in conflict to explore their options in a cooperative environment have created success in resolving a large percentage of disputes.  My strength is my combined ability to work as a neutral facilitator in resolving current conflicts and as a trainer to help manage and prevent future conflicts.  I am an active member of the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) Maryland Chapter and the Mediators of Color Alliance Network.

      7. Donna Ashman, Executive Director

    As Executive Director for the Maryland Board of Occupational Therapy Practice, I am responsible for coordinating monthly Board meetings, developing legislative proposals and State regulations, adjudicating complaints, as well as oversight of the Board office operations.  My educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from Towson University and a Master of Administrative Science Degree from The Johns Hopkins University.

    IV.  Past/Present Board Members
      1. Past/Present Board members 

    1/11/1979  Thomas J. Filip, III, President
                        Carole Hays, OTR
                        Bonnie Moy, OTR, Secretary
                        Charlotte Seltser, COTA
                        Lillian Byrd, OTR

    02/05/1979 Lillian Byrd resigned.

    07/02/1979 Penny Kyler added.

    10/21/1981 Ms. Seltser resigned from the Board.

    05/21/1982 Nancy Rehmeyer added to the Board.

    04/15/1983 Linda Walker added as Administrator.

    07/20/1984 Elizabeth Hoffman replaces Carole Hays.

    10/19/1984 Thomas J. Filip, III, President
                         Elizabeth Hoffman
                         Penny Kyler-Hutchison
                         Bonnie Moy
                         Nancy Rehmeyer
                         Linda Dorsey-Walker, Administrator

    09/1985      Thomas J. Filip, III, President
                        Diane Gray
                        Elizabeth Hoffman, Secretary
                        Deborah Lieberman
                        Nancy Rehmeyer
                        Linda Dorsey-Walker, Administrator

    07/18/1986 Elizabeth Hoffman, President
                        Diane Gray
                        Deborah Leiberman
                        Nancy Rehmeyer, Secretary
                        Linda Dorsey-Walker, Administrator

    09/16/1986 Elizabeth Hoffman, President
                         Nancy Gerace
                         Diane Gray
                        Deborah Lieberman
                        Harry Smith, Sr., Consumer Member
                        Linda Dorsey Walker, Administrator

    10/14/1988 Elizabeth Hoffman
                        Diane Hunter
                        Deborah Lieberman
                        Harry Smith
                        Linda Dorsey Walker, Administrator

    01/20/1989 Cheryl Hastings, Acting Administrator

    10/20/1989 Elizabeth Hoffman
                        Diane Hunter
                        Deborah Lieberman
                        Harry Smith, Sr.
                        Alice Arthur
                        Suzanne Browne, Administrator

    01/1990      Elected Diane Hunter as President
                      and Deborah Lieberman as Secretary
    08/17/1990  Jo Hubbs replaces Elizabeth Hoffman
    10/18/1991  Jo A. Hubbs, President

                        Frances Silverstein
                        Harry Smith
                        Alice Arthur, Sr., Consumer Member
                        Carole Bainer
                        Suzanne Browne, Administrator


    07/17/1992 Jo A. Hubbs, President
                        Carol Bainer
                        Gladys Patterson, Consumer Member
                        Frances Silvestein, Secretary
                        Suzanne Browne, Administrator

    09/1992      Betty Cox appointed as COTA member.

    01/22/1993 Donna Ashman welcomed as Administrator

    06/18/1993 Elected Carol Bainer as Board President and Legislative
                        Liaison and Betty Cox for Board Secretary.

      10/15/1993 Carol Bainer, President
                        Betty Cox, Secretary
                        Gladys Patterson, Consumer Member
                        Alfred Tyler, Consumer Member
                        Frances Silverstein
                        Elena Skittle
                        Donna Ashman, Administrator

    05/20/1994  Carol Bainer, President
                         Kristen Brown
                          Betty Cox, Secretary
                          Gladys Patterson, Consumer Member
                          Frances Silverstein
                          Elena Skittle
                          Alfred Tyler, Consumer Member
                         Donna Ashman, Administrator

    06/16/1995  Elena Skittle-Watson, Board Co-Chairperson
                         Betty Cox, Board Co-Chairperson
                         Carol Bainer
                         Kristen Brown, Board Secretary
                         Frances Silverstein
                         Alfred Tyler, Consumer Member
                         Donna Ashman, Administrator

    08/18/1995  Judith Blum replaces Carol Bainer on the Board

    11/17/1995 Barbara McLaughlin added as a Consumer Member

                   07/18/1997 Kristen Brown elected as Board Co-Chairperson
                                        and Judith Blum as Board Secretary.
                                        Deborah Craig replaces Betty Cox.

                   08/21/1998 Kristen Brown and Judith Blum were elected as Board  
                                        Co-Chairpersons and Frances Silverstein as Board Secretary.

                   02/18/2000  Joyce Carla Farrington replaces Frances Silverstein

                   05/19/2000  Joyce Carla Farrington and Judith Blum elected as
                                          Board Co-Chairpersons.
                                          Board secretary position considered as obsolete.
                                          Thaddeus Meade Felton added as Consumer Member.

                   10/20/2000 Judith Blum, Co-Chairperson
                                        Joyce Carla Farrington, Co-Chairperson
                                        Elena Skittle-Watson
                                        Claudia McInerney
                                        Debbie Craig
                                        Thaddeus Meade Felton
                                        Alfred Tyler
                                        Donna Ashman, Administrator

                    09/03/2002 Cindy McKoin replaced Elena Skittle-Watson.

                    07/01/2003  Joyce Carla Farrington elected as Chairperson.
                                         Claudia McInerney elected as Vice Chairperson.

                    07/01/2003  Linda Leimbach replaced Judith Blum.
                                         Nathaniel Johnson replaced Alfred Tyler.  

                   05/19/2005  Claudia McInerney elected as Chairperson.
                                         Cindy McKoin elected as Vice Chairperson.

                    09/05/2005  Joyce Ford replaced Debbie Craig.

                    2006             Pastor Nathaniel Johnson resigned as the Consumer Member.

                    12/2006        Christine Moghimi replaced Cindy McKoin.

                     10/2007       Kamala Stevenson replaced Joyce Carla Farrington. 
                                          Kuzhilethu Kshepakaran replaced Linda Leimbach.

                      2007           Joyce Ford elected Vice Chairperson  Meeakshi Gupta joined as Consumer Member.

                   2008          Jocelind Julien, Consumer Member, replacing Thaddeus Meade Felton. Iyna Adams replaced Claudia McInerney.  Joyce Ford was elected Board Chairperson and Christine Moghimi became Board Vice Chairperson.
                                                              

                                        

    V.  Administrative History of Statute and Regulations.

    1.  Chapter 01 General Regulations

    Effective date: January 31, 1983 (10:2 Md. R. 109)

    • Regulation .01 amended effective July 3, 1995 (22:13 Md. R. 968)
    • Regulation .02 amended effective July 3, 1995 (22:13 Md. R. 968)
    • Regulation .03 repealed effective July 20, 1992 (19:14 Md. R. 1284)
    • Regulation .03 adopted effective July 3, 1995 (22:13 Md. R. 968)
    • Regulation .04 adopted effective July 3, 1995 (22:13 Md. R. 968)
    • Regulations .01 — .04 repealed and new Regulation .01 — .06 adopted as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2000 (27:21 Md. R. 1973); emergency status extended at 28:7 Md. R. 687 and 28:9 Md. R. 884; adopted permanently effective April 30, 2001 (28:8 Md. R. 761)
    • Regulation .01B amended effective December 10, 2001 (28:24 Md. R. 2129)
    • Regulation .03 amended effective December 10, 2001 (28:24 Md. R. 2129)
    • Regulation .07 adopted effective December 10, 2001 (28:24 Md. R. 2129)
    • Chapter revised effective April 21, 2008 (35:8 Md. R. 805)

    2. Chapter 02 Code of Ethics

    Effective date: January 31, 1983 (10:2 Md. R. 109)

    • Chapter repealed and new Regulations .01 — .03 adopted effective August 7, 2000 (27:15 Md. R. 1401)
    • Regulation .01A amended effective April 21, 2008 (35:8 Md. R. 805)
    3.  Chapter 03 Procedure for Board Hearings

    Effective date: January 31, 1983 (10:2 Md. R. 109)
    • Regulation .04 amended effective October 1, 2000 (27:17 Md. R. 1620
    • Regulation .05 amended effective October 1, 2000 (27:17 Md. R. 1620); April 21, 2008 (35:8 Md. R. 805)
    • Regulation .05C amended effective January 30, 1995 (22:2 Md. R. 77); April 21, 2008 (35:8 Md. R. 805)
    • Regulation .0-5 amended effective October 1, 2000 (27:17 Md. R. 1620)

    4.  Chapter 04 Continuing Competency Requirement

    Effective date: July 29, 1985 (12:15 Md. R. 1520)

    • Regulation .02A amended effective March 27, 1995 (22:6 Md. R. 474)
    • Regulation .03 amended effective March 27, 1995 (22:6 Md. R. 474)
    • Regulations .04 — .07 repealed and new Regulations .04 — .07 adopted effective March 27, 1995 (22:6 Md. R. 474)
    • Regulations .01 — .07 repealed and new Regulations .01 — .08 adopted effective October 2, 2000 (27:19 Md. R. 1726)
    • Chapter revised effective April 21, 2008 (35:8 Md. R. 805)

    5.  Chapter 05 Collection of Fees

    Effective date: July 20, 1992 (19:14 Md. R. 1284)

    • Regulation .01 amended as an emergency provision effective October 1, 1993 (20:20 Md. R. 1566); amended permanently effective April 2, 1994 (20:22 Md. R. 1708)
    • Regulation .01 amended effective November 3, 1997 (24:22 Md. R. 1552); August 21, 2000 (27:16 Md. R. 1526)
    • Regulation .01 amended and Regulation .02 adopted as an emergency provision effective August 31, 2001 (28:19 Md. R. 1681); adopted permanently effective December 10, 2001 (28:24 Md. R. 2129)
    • Regulation .01 amended effective March 15, 2004 (31:5 Md. R. 449)
    • Regulation .01 repealed and new Regulation .01 adopted effective April 21, 2008 (35:8 Md. R. 805)
    • Regulation .02 amended effective April 21, 2008 (35:8 Md. R. 805)

    6.  Chapter 06 Competency Requirements for Physical Agent Modalities

    Effective date:

    • Regulations .01 — .06 adopted as an emergency provision effective June 1, 2001 (28:12 Md. R. 1102); adopted permanently effective September 17, 2001 (28:18 Md. R. 1621)
    • Chapter revised effective April 21, 2008 (35:8 Md. R. 805)