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Gina is an occupational therapist with over 30 years of experience encompassing clinical practice, leadership, management, and education. She is board-certified in gerontology by the American Occupational Therapy Association and serves as the Chair and Program Director of the Occupational Therapy Department at Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ of California. 

Gina was the first occupational therapist to be selected for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Geriatric Academic Career Award (GACA). From 2019-2023, she was the Project Director for her $300,000 GACA project, which focused on educating occupational therapy practitioners and other healthcare professionals to enhance the well-being and quality of life for older adults with cognitive impairments and their caregivers. In 2022, she served as editor for the American Occupational Therapy Association's online course for occupational therapists preparing to sit for the board certification exam in gerontology. For her work on this project, she was recognized as a UCSF Tideswell Emerging Leader in Aging Scholar. In addition to her efforts to elevate the healthcare workforce through educational initiatives, Gina has developed collaborative partnerships with Northern California community based organizations to provide innovative programs that meet the needs of older adults and leverage community care models for older adults. In 2022, she completed Harvard Macy Institute's "Leading Innovation in Healthcare and Education" program and was invited to serve as guest faculty for the program in 2023.

Education

Rocky Mountain University of Health Professionals, Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy 

University of Indianapolis, Master’s of Health Science in Occupational Therapy            

San Jose State University, Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy

Research Interests

Gina is interested in the psychosocial and cognitive aspects of geriatric occupational therapy. Individuals with dementia and mental health conditions who reside in long-term care communities face unique challenges related to the demands of a life lived within an institution. Gina seeks to identify gaps in occupational therapy practice and develop evidence-based interventions that can be implemented by the staff, caregivers, and families of individuals who reside in long-term care communities. 

Honors and Awards

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration: Geriatric Academic Career Award. Sept 2019 to June of 2023 for "Occupational Therapy and Inter-professional Education to Support Health, Well-Being and Quality of Life for Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment and Mental Illness."