Crystal Cabrera, who is known on social media as The Brainy OT, became an occupational therapist in 2015. Her first jobs were in pediatrics; she worked per diem OT positions at a private outpatient clinic and at a prescribed pediatric extended care clinic (PPEC). After a little more than a year as an OT, Crystal sought out opportunities to work with the adult population. In 2016 she accepted a position at a large community hospital with a Level I Trauma Center and Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center. Since then, she has dedicated her practice to the neurological population and attained the certification of Certified Stroke Rehab Specialist.

Connect with Crystal:

• Email - thebrainyot@gmail.com
• Instagram - @TheBrainyOT

Do you know what a long-hauler is? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people with COVID-19 typically recover from the condition in about two weeks' time, but there are a number of individuals who continue to experience symptoms and/or continue to test positive for the virus for much longer - even 100+ days in some cases. This group of people is being referred to by medical personnel as the long-haulers, and experts aren't entirely sure why those who fit this description can't shake the disease.
 
On this episode, physical therapist Barry Mangione shares about his experience after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 and as a long-hauler. As a physical therapist since 1991, Barry's story provides unique insight into the lived experience of a long-hauler as well as the distinct role of occupational therapy in supporting individuals in this group.
 
Besides being a PT, Barry is also a musician, an author, and a podcaster. He lives in New York with his wife and their family. Through his podcast, Self-Help Rockstar Show, Barry features music, interviews, and his own brand of self-help advice in order to raise self-awareness and to inspire people to go out and live their best lives every day. In his self-help book No Easy Answers: A Book of Life-Changing Questions, Barry shares his personal success story with readers so that they, too, can achieve personal transformation.

Resources from this episode:

• Barry's band: Blue Alien Mystic
• Barry's book: No Easy Answers: A Book of Life-Changing Questions
• Barry's podcast: Self-Help Rockstar Show
• Dr. Gabor Maté - https://drgabormate.com/

Connect with Barry:

• Email - barrymangione1@gmail.com
• Twitter - @barrymangione
• Website/blog - www.barrymangione.com

​On this episode, second-year occupational therapy students Bailey Diprima, Serena Khiantani, and Pam Ponce talk about the outcome of their work in a course in OT school on evidence-based practice. Their study looked at the outcome of medical interventions used with children ages 4-18 for treatment of medulloblastoma, a malignant (cancerous) type of brain tumor that originates in the cerebellum. 

Bailey, Serena, and Pam are students in the Master's degree OT program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN.