Occupational Therapy Assistant
Faculty and Staff
Joanne Trammel MS, OTR/L
Program Coordinator / Clinical Senior Instructor
Office: Owen-Redfield Complex 256
Professional Work Experience
- Occupational Therapist - 30 years
- Practice areas include: Inpatient acute, Inpatient Rehab, Home Health, Acute Geriatric Psychiatry, Outpatient Rehab
- Special interest in Dementia
- Program Coordinator/Clinical Senior Instructor, ISU College of Technology OTA program – since 2016
Career Highlights
- Graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with my Master of Science in OT
- Graduated from UNC-Greensboro with my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- Have practiced as an OT in 5 different states
- Came to Idaho as a traveling OT 20+ years ago
- Developed the Occupational Therapy-led Activities Therapy Program at Sawtooth Behavioral Hospital in Twin Falls, Idaho.
- Certified Dementia Capable Care Instructor certified date: June 2013
- Participated in JHACO accreditation
- Teach caregiver education classes related to loved ones living with Dementia for ISU Continuing Education
- Active with the Alzheimer’s Association
One of my Favorite Professional Experiences…
I have had too many to count, but I can say that working with OT professionals across the country has been an awesome experience. I have worked with many COTA’s and the relationship is great when the communication is open. I have learned so much from COTA’s about difficult interventions. I found that the COTA’s I work with can have great insight into what the client needs and will find a unique way to make it happen.
This is most true in home health where I have spent much of my career. I spent time as a traveling therapist which took me to Cape Cod and then to Idaho. I have learned so many things from my home health patients. Things such as how to make crazy cake with boiled frosting, homemade noodles, card games, etc.
Being in Idaho these last 20+ years has rounded out my career and I found a passion for dementia while working in home health and that led me to my role in a geriatric psychiatric hospital in Twin Falls. That job was the proving ground for the community-based caregiver education classes I know teach through ISU Continuing Education/Workforce Training.
A Little About Me
I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, moved to Asheville North Carolina when I was 6, and then to Idaho in 1994.
I am the youngest of 5 with 4 older brothers. I am married and have 2 children. My son is in the Navy and my daughter and her husband just blessed us with our first grandbaby.
I enjoy golf, gardening, fishing and family.
Anna Alexander, MEd, MOTR/L
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator/Clinical Instructor
Office: Owen Redfield Complex 241
Education
- B.A. in Psychology from Idaho State University
- M.Ed. In School Counseling from Western Washington University
- MOT from Idaho State University
Professional Work Experience
- Occupational Therapist in home health since 2015
- Occupational Therapist in skilled nursing since 2021
- Instructor, College of Technology OTA program since 2019
- Instructor, MOT program since 2019
- Instructor, College of Technology Health Occupations since 2022
Professional Interests
I am passionate about accessibility of spaces and tools for all abilities and dream of pursuing the ability to consult with contractors, designers, etc. to create spaces in new buildings as well as remodels that are not only ADA compliant, but functional for the user as well through the use of activity analysis and my “OT lens”.
Favorite Professional Experience
Working as an OT in home health allows a certain intimacy with a client that you just don’t get with any other setting. While it can be isolating from your co-workers, the connections made with your clients are well worth the extra communication hassles. I remember one time in particular I was helping a client shower—not an unusual treatment session for OT, but this person had not been able to get in their shower for over 2 years. With the right equipment and education, we were able to make this happen and the client had tears of joy because this simple task was brought back into their life. It is humbling to help someone with such a basic task that most of us take for granted and see what joy and peace it can bring to others who have had that ability taken away.
My Life Outside OT
I am an Idaho native and while my heart remains in Idaho with its natural beauty, my head is usually somewhere else. My husband and I love to travel and experience new cultures, and of course, the food is usually my favorite part! I am also a hobby enthusiast and have several. I enjoy making teddy bears, baking, stained glass, photography, road biking, hiking, snowshoeing, and pampering my dogs and cats! I also play the violin in the Idaho State Civic Symphony, just to make sure I don’t have too much free time on my hands!
Kaden Todd Stimpson
COTA/L Clinical Instructor for the Occupational therapy Assistant program
Office: Owen-Redfield Complex 259
Professional Work Experience
- 5 years as a COTA/L in the Pocatello/Chubbuck SD25
- 5 years in 2 PRN roles at Hannah’s Place and Bingham Memorial Hospital
- Some experience in skilled nursing and adult outpatient at Bingham Memorial
- ISU pediatric instructor since Fall 2022 semester
Career Highlights
I personally enjoy watching the children I have worked with grow up and become more independent in their schooling, home life, and social lives. Working with children is super fun. I get to let my inner child run free with a lot of my interventions and get down right alongside them and play games. I enjoy that I can work with the same child for years and watch them move into each one of their developmental milestones.
Favorite Professional Experience
My favorite professional experience has to be when I was a student in the program on my level 2 fieldwork in a pediatric hospital setting. I saw a kiddo who was extremely behind in their milestones. I was there to witness and help facilitate the kiddos first crawl, first steps, and many more firsts. This experience has really made me love what OT does!
A Little about me…
After I graduated high school I set out to become a PT, however life had other plans for me. After taking a few Generals my advisor approached me and asked if I knew what Occupational Therapy was. Since then I have been striving to become an excellent OT. I met my wife in 2017 and was Married in 2019. In 2022 we had our first child named Simon and he has been the best baby! I enjoy disc golf, regular golf, exploring new hobbies that my family can do together, watching and playing sports, and having game nights with family and friends.