Marla has been an Occupational Therapist for 28 years. She is the assistant director of inpatient therapy at the University of Chicago Medical Center. She oversees the day to day operations for inpatient acute pediatric and adult acute care hospitals. Her clinical work is with pediatric and adult acute care burn rehabilitation. She has research interests in burn rehabilitation.
Marla has served AOTA in many capacities. She served on the AOTA Board for Advanced and Specialty Certification as a member and chair, Chair of the Commission of Continuing Competence and Professional Development, Chair of the National Mentorship Taskforce, AOTA representative for National Quality Forum for Patient reported outcome, AOTA representative for the Joint Commission Professional Technical Advisory Committee for Hospitals, AOTA representative for Society of Critical Care Medicine Task Force Long Term Consequences of PICs, and as co-chair of the Chicago Area Council of OT Directors. She assisted in the development of the pilot for AOTA for the acute care residency program at the University of Chicago Medical Center and continues to serve as a fellowship site reviewer and now member of the Fellowship Program Review Committee for AOTA.