Emily Cummings - Secretary

Hi UOTA friends! My name is Emily Cummings and I work as a pediatric occupational therapist. I enjoy creative outlets like crafting (e.g., sewing, knitting, weaving) and painting watercolors, as well as supporting my family members in their activities. I stay active by skiing, playing volleyball, hiking/camping, and enjoying the local trail system along the river, usually while listening to a good audiobook. The pandemic lockdown in 2020 piqued my interest in gardening and I find it thrilling to see what things I can convince to grow (and get my kids to try eating!) each year.

I earned a Master of Occupational Therapy degree at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA and worked for Seattle Public Schools for several years before moving to Utah. Joining UOTA helped ease the loss I felt at leaving my OT network behind in Washington as I began to meet other practitioners in Utah and make connections with new organizations at continuing education events. The support I felt from UOTA as I started over in a new state was worth far more to me than the UOTA membership fee I paid. I never fully understood how much work goes on behind the scenes in UOTA, however, until I started volunteering on the UOTA 2020 Annual Conference planning committee. It was great to see the collaboration of occupational therapists & occupational therapy assistants from different practice areas in the state and throughout the western region. We worked hard to provide the most relevant continuing education opportunities to meet a variety of needs, and I’ve had a new appreciation for UOTA ever since. I enjoy volunteering as the UOTA secretary and appreciate the growth I’ve experienced, both professionally and personally, while helping UOTA run smoothly behind the scenes and supporting occupational therapy-related endeavors in Utah.