UNM Occupational Therapy Graduate Program

✨ Alum Spotlight: Sandia Wood, OTR/L (Class of 2020) ✨
From research to real-world impact, Sandia Wood is redefining what compassionate, creative care looks like in occupational therapy. 💙

After graduating from UNM’s Occupational Therapy program in 2020, Sandia co-published an academic paper with Dr. Mary Thelander exploring avian-assisted therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic—just the beginning of her innovative approach to patient care. Today, she continues to bring diverse and meaningful interventions into skilled nursing facilities across New Mexico. 🐦✨

Her work truly stands out: Sandia has introduced animal-assisted therapy into her practice, bringing everything from dogs and rabbits to even a miniature goat—creating moments of joy, connection, and healing for both patients and staff. 🐐🐶
Beyond the clinic, Sandia is deeply committed to community outreach. Through her work with UNM’s Center for Native American Health, she helps inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals. Most recently, she supported a presentation at Santa Fe Indian School highlighting career pathways in medicine, with a special focus on occupational therapy alongside Dr. Charity Bishop. 🌄🎓

Whether she’s serving Albuquerque’s most vulnerable populations at the largest skilled nursing facility in the state or reconnecting with mentors like Dr. Carla Wilhite while conducting home assessments for medical equipment, Sandia brings the values and skills of the UNM OT graduate program to every patient interaction.

👏 We’re proud to celebrate Sandia’s passion, innovation, and dedication to making a difference—one patient (and one miniature goat!) at a time.

Pictured: A client with a miniature goat; Sandia using art as occupation with a client; Sandia with a fancy rooster used to promote memory and engagement; Sandia with students considering health care careers; Sandia bringing a wheel-barrow of fun, in the form of a goat, to clients. Sandia with Dr. Carla Wilhite. Photo releases on file by SW or partner organizations.

Are you, or do you know a UNM OTGP Alum who should be in the spotlight? Send nominations to Dr. Mary Thelander at [email protected].

-OT

Are you, or do you know a UNM OTGP Alumni who should be in the spotlight? Send nominations to Dr. Mary Thelander at [email protected]

Considerable attention is being given to transforming rural healthcare, and occupational therapy is particularly well suited to be part of the teams doing this inherently important work.

One example we face in New Mexico is that we are not prepared for the needs of older adults who are aging in place, and the problem is amplified in rural areas. Older adults and people with disabilities are living in homes that were never designed for their needs, often hours from the nearest provider. Falls are one major associated problem, but environmental issues like narrow doorways and unsafe bathrooms erode safety and independence. Furthermore, the workforce cannot reach everyone through in-person visits alone.

Home modifications are an effective solution for enhancing independence and safety while decreasing falls and caregiver burden. Pairing occupational therapists with nurses and handymen is a particularly strong, evidence-based model for improving outcomes, including reduced healthcare expenditures.

What continues to be a challenge is reach. OT-led home assessment and modification planning can now be conducted remotely, even for families who live far from services. While this has been done in a makeshift way (i.e., requesting pictures and sometimes videos from families leaving therapists to use their best judgment from limited low quality data), since even before the COVID era, never has there been a standardized way to give clients and their families the expertise to collect high quality data from their smartphones. This system paired with local installers and community partners, can extend to communities that have been long underserved.

New Mexico has exciting opportunities for innovation in rural health, and occupational therapy is ready to be a strong partner in that effort.


NMOTA - New Mexico Occupational Therapy Association

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Albuquerque company uses AI to make homes more accessible for seniors, those with disabilities The platform uses augmented reality and occupational therapists to help residents identify and address potential hazards.

✨ Alumni Spotlight: Savannah Miranda, OT/CLT (Class of 2020)✨

We’re proud to highlight Savannah Miranda, a 2020 UNM Occupational Therapy alum who is making a powerful impact in the Albuquerque community!

Nominated by a colleague and community member, Savannah continues to champion innovative, patient-centered care. In partnership with UNM PT alum Janelle Jackson and Balanced Physical Therapy + Wellness founders Jamel and Stacey Esch, Savannah launched a new Balanced Lymphedema and Neurological Specialty Clinic in Northeast Albuquerque in 2025.
This exciting expansion brings together OT, PT, and SLP services to support individuals living with lymphedema, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury. Their team is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge neurorehabilitation and lymphatic care, improving outcomes and quality of life for their patients.

👏 Congratulations, Savannah, on your leadership and commitment to advancing care in our community—we can’t wait to see your continued impact!

Learn more about Balanced Physical Therapy + Wellness Lymphedema + Neurological Location: https://www.balancedrehababq.com/locations/lnrc



Are you, or do you know a UNM OTGP Alum who should be in the spotlight? Send nominations to Dr. Mary Thelander at [email protected].

Pictured: UNM alumi Savannah Miranda (OT) and Janelle Jackson (PT) from https://www.balancedrehababq.com/team

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