An OT at Heart

Rebecca Simon, MS ’97, is a committed doer and problem solver. As associate dean of the College of Health and Wellness at Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island, she is responsible for increasing enrollment, optimizing the student experience, and juggling an array of day-to-day functions. Simon credits her OT training with helping her thrive in such a multifaceted and challenging role.

“My OT training gave me the ability to approach problems creatively,” she says, “It gave me a framework to understand human relationships, see multiple sides to an issue, and assess how different groups can come together to achieve a positive outcome. I believe the OT lens on helping others and understanding whole systems makes us good leaders.”

Simon is grateful for the college professor who told her she would make a great occupational therapist – a profession she had never heard of at the time. “I was studying healthcare administration at Stonehill College and I immediately started researching the field,” she recalls. “I loved the educational and clinical components and how it allows for so much creativity. OT was the career I’d been searching for. I always say that I’m an OT at heart. It’s just who I am.”

After graduating from Stonehill College, Simon enrolled in an MS of Occupational Therapy program at Tufts. She gravitated towards pediatrics and loved her fieldwork placements where she had the opportunity to work with children and their families.

“I had excellent professors at Tufts, particularly Distinguished Senior Lecturer Janet Brooks and Lecturer Mary Barnes, ” Simon reflects. “They were great mentors, and the culture was very collaborative and collegial. It wasn’t competitive or hierarchical. I’ve carried this appreciation with me my whole career. It’s how educational and work environments should be.”

Simon was offered entry-level positions at all three of her fieldwork sites and chose to work at an outpatient pediatric practice in Rhode Island. She went on to work as a clinical coordinator at an early intervention program, supervising over 40 healthcare professionals. Subsequently, she taught pediatric occupational therapy at a local college, worked as an academic fieldwork coordinator at New England Institute of Technology, and founded a private practice serving children with disabilities and varying needs.

“I’ve never been bored working as an OT,” Simon explains. “Every day is something new. There was one day when my youngest client was three-months-old and my oldest client was 97-years-old. All of your clients are going to be different, which is exciting and allows for so much skill development and creativity. It’s a fantastic profession.” 

Simon went on to co-develop a new occupational therapy doctoral program at Johnson & Wales University, while earning a doctorate in education with a concentration in higher education administration from Northeastern University. She transitioned to the role of associate dean of the College of Health and Wellness at Johnson & Wales in 2023.

Although her current role has taken her away from clinical practice, Simon finds ways to connect to her OT roots. She is serving as the leadership council chair of the academic fieldwork coordinators for the American OT Association and has penned several book chapters on pediatric occupational therapy and fieldwork. 

For all her many professional accomplishments and contributions to her local community, Simon was honored with a Providence Business News Leaders and Achievers Award this past summer. “It was great to be recognized in this way,” she reflects. “I’ve had so many wonderful mentors over the years who’ve helped shape me as a professional. If I can encourage someone else along in their journey, whether it’s a client, a student, or a colleague, I would love to do that.”

When she isn't busy working or writing, Simon enjoys spending time with her family. She can often be found cheering on her three sons at their sporting events and walking along Rhode Island’s beaches with her husband.