2025 AKOTA Spring Conference

Saturday & Sunday, March 29-30

OUR INCREDIBLE SPEAKERS

Harnessing Neuroplasticity

AKOTA is hosting a two-day spring conference with an emphasis on occupational therapy’s role in the treatment of neurological conditions. The presentations are applicable to both pediatric and adult settings. AKOTA and AKSHA members are eligible for a reduced registration fee. Please join us for a weekend of collaborative connection and continuing education.

Please bring your own snacks and hydration. There will be a one-hour lunch break from noon to 1PM. Stay tuned for speaker updates, venue, and schedules.

~Presentations~

The Visual Brain: Complications and Rehabilitation. Presenter: Sherry Lentfer, OD, FOVR. A passionate Alaskan optometrist since 1996, Dr. Lentfer is deeply involved in the local community, with a focus on neuro-optometric rehabilitation. As a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and past chair of the Alaska Brain Injury Network, Dr. Lentfer brings a wealth of experience in vision and its critical role in functional performance, especially in relation to neurological conditions.

Rehabilitation Techniques: Vision Therapy.Presenter: Laura Sifferman Kompkoff, OD, FOVR. After over a decade of practicing in Seattle, Dr. Sifferman Kompkoff now calls Alaska home, blending her expertise in optometry with her love for the Alaskan landscape. A Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, Dr. Sifferman Kompkoff has a rich background in neuro-optometric rehabilitation and a commitment to improving patients’ quality of life through vision care.

Electrophysical Agents (EPAs) for Neuroplasticity: Integrating Electrotherapeutic Agents into Therapy. Presenter: Alfred G. Bracciano, MScA, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA. Dr. Bracciano, is a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and a leading authority on physical agent modalities (PAMs) and electrophysical agents (EPAs). As a professor at Creighton University and a key contributor to occupational therapy education and practice worldwide, Dr. Bracciano’s expertise is unparalleled. He has also authored chapters in key rehabilitation textbooks and contributed to the AOTA Position Paper on Physical Agent Modalities. This session will be a mix of 2 hours of lecture and 2 hours of hands-on experience, designed to help OTs integrate EPAs into their practice for enhanced neuroplasticity outcomes. Those who attend virtually will only earn credit for the lecture.

Understanding Behavior and Effective Intervention Strategies. Presenters: Kelly Hild and Ali Pike, Board Certified Behavioral Analysts (BCBA). Ali Pike and Kelly Hild both work at the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Center for Human Development, and are consultants for the complex behavior collaborative. This presentation focuses on a collaborative team approach to understanding and addressing challenging behaviors. Key takeaways include: Making behavior observable and manageable for intervention, Prioritizing physical and emotional safety for all involved, Building trust through rapport and understanding behavior functions, and Teaching replacement behaviors to promote positive, socially appropriate outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
• The importance of collaboration in behavior management
• Making behaviors observable for more effective interventions
• Prioritizing safety and building trust
• Identifying optimal intervention timing and understanding behavior functions
• Teaching socially appropriate replacement behaviors
• Fostering sustainable, individualized interventions for long-term success

NBCOT® National Certification Exam: Information You Need to Know. Presenter: Celeste Tidingco, OTR/L. Celeste, an occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience, serves as the inpatient, acute care, and ICU OT at the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium. She’s been the NBCOT Ambassador for Alaska since 2022, and plans to share her expertise to help you navigate your path to becoming an OTR or COTA. Her session will cover everything you need to understand about preparing for and applying for the national certification exams. You’ll get exclusive insights on:

-The application process
-Effective exam preparation strategies
-NBCOT Aspire® Study Tools & StudyPack™
-Tips from recent certificants
-Important test-day info and more!

This session will empower you with the knowledge to feel confident as you approach your certification journey and learn about tools NBCOT offers to help you renew your certification.

Location: UAA Beatrice McDonald Hall Room 116, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage AK 99508

Directions and Parking Information: Park in the West Parking lot (refer to UAA campus map), located between Lake Otis Parkway and Providence Beatrice MacDonald Hall is building #5 on the map, the conference location is on the first floor room 116, signage will be posted!

 

Beatrice McDonald Hall, Room 116 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage AK