Dr. Cristina Reyes Smith is a graduate of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program at Thomas Jefferson University and the Masters in Occupational Therapy program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She has over 15 years of experience in community health promotion, program development, and volunteer service to underserved communities. She currently works as an Assistant Professor and Director of Admissions in the MUSC College of Health Professions (CHP) Division of Occupational Therapy. She has served as Faculty Advisor for the CHP Student Diversity Leadership Council and CHP Aprendiendo Juntos interprofessional Spanish club.
Dr. Smith was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the American Occupational Therapy Association beginning in July 2020. She was also recently invited to serve on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Occupational Therapy Education and officially began this role April 2020. She has conducted presentations and published articles about workforce diversity; cultural competence and sensitivity; and related topics for local, state, and national venues. She has also integrated these concepts on campus through presentations, interprofessional course electives, and student research groups. She coordinates the annual MUSC Culturally Sensitive Care Program open to all MUSC students, faculty, and staff since the Fall of 2018 about the USDHHS National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards. She also coordinates the annual MUSC Septima P. Clark Poetry Contest for Lowcountry children and youth in honor of the Charleston native and civil rights activist.
Full Bio:
Dr. Cristina Reyes Smith is a graduate of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program at Thomas Jefferson University and the Masters in Occupational Therapy program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She has over 15 years of experience in community health promotion, program development, and volunteer service to underserved communities. She currently works as an Assistant Professor and Director of Admissions in the MUSC College of Health Professions (CHP) Division of Occupational Therapy and serves as Founding Faculty Advisor for the CHP Student Diversity Leadership Council and CHP Aprendiendo Juntos interprofessional Spanish club. In 2018, she was selected by students for the CHP Achievement in Diversity Award and selected by faculty for the CHP Excellence in Service Faculty Award. She was nominated by faculty for the MUSC Leadership in Diversity Award in 2017 and 2018 and nominated by an OT student for the MUSC Educator-Mentor Award in 2017. She is actively involved in OT student recruitment efforts and outreach programs including the SC AHEC Summer Careers Academy, Discover MUSC, and educational presentations for undergraduate and high school programs.
Dr. Smith was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the American Occupational Therapy Association. This term will be for three years beginning in July 2020. She was also recently invited to serve on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Occupational Therapy Education and officially began this role April 2020. She has conducted presentations and published articles about workforce diversity, cultural competence and sensitivity, and related topics for local, state, and national venues. She has also integrated these concepts on campus through presentations, interprofessional course electives, and student research groups. She recently coordinated a Culturally Sensitive Care Lecture Series open to all MUSC students, faculty, and staff in the Fall of 2018 about the USDHHS National CLAS Standards for culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
Dr. Smith served as the South Carolina Representative to the American Occupational Therapy Association Representative Assembly for two terms (2010-2013 & 2016-2019). She is a co-founder of the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (which received non-profit status in January 2019), and she serves as Academic Engagement Co-Coordinator and Co-Chair of COTAD-ED--a national network for OT educators interested in promoting diversity and inclusion. She was a participant of the 2012 AOTA Emerging Leaders Development Program under the mentorship of Dr. Neil Harvison and Maria Elena Louch. She is actively involved in the South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association and coordinates regular presentations, communication networks on social media, and advocacy efforts open to practitioners and students.
Lastly, Dr. Smith is Founder and Business Development Coordinator of Vida Bella Services, LLC, a pediatric therapy agency focused on promoting access to quality care for occupational, physical, and soon speech therapy primarily for under-served communities who experience barriers due to language, geographic, and socioeconomic factors. The company also regularly coordinates wellness-centered activities, educational programs, and events to promote “Alegria” or “joyfulness” for families of individuals in the community who are differently=abled.