Samantha Jerry, OTD OTR/L

Samantha Jerry, OTD, OTR/L is a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist who provides occupational therapy services at the Jackson location of Northeast Spine and Sports Medicine.

Samantha received her Bachelors of Science in Public Health with a minor in Studio Art from Stockton University in 2017. In 2021, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Western New England University's Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program. Prior to her career as an Occupational Therapist, Samantha worked extensively as a rehabilitation aide in outpatient orthopedics and hand therapy. She has won numerous awards for her leadership skills and community involvement throughout her academic career.

Samantha has clinical experience across a variety of settings including: outpatient orthopedics, hand therapy, inpatient mental health, pediatric settings, as well as in community-based settings. She has treated a variety of conditions including, but not limited to, orthopedic conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, neuromuscular conditions, upper-extremity and hand pathologies, ergonomic conditions, cumulative trauma, along with children that have disabilities and/or developmental delays. Additionally, Samantha is a former decorated athlete who uses her personal athletic experiences in conjunction with her clinical knowledge and skills to treat athletes who are recovering from sports-related injuries and to help prevent injuries from occurring. A true people person, Samantha enjoys working with people of all ages and has a passion for treating conditions of the hands and upper extremities. She has aspirations to further her knowledge and clinical skills in this specialization area, as well as to attain her credentials as a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT).

Outside of her passion for orthopedics, Samantha has also spent time volunteering with the Therapeutic Equestrian Center (Holyoke, MA) and with the Center for Human Development (Springfield, MA)-working primarily with their adaptive recreational programs such as summer camp, sled hockey, fishing, and CrossFit. Within both of these organizations, Samantha worked with team members to help run and facilitate therapeutic recreational activities for individuals of all ages and capabilities. It was these non-traditional settings and activities that sparked her interests in ocean therapy, nature-based therapy, equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT), and similar non-traditional settings that involve the outdoors.

Samantha has recently completed her doctoral capstone and has submitted original research on work-related pain and injury in manual therapists, as well as presented additional research on both the state and national level. She has also used her research to design a continuing education (CE) course focused on preventing work-related pain and injury in the outpatient rehabilitation setting. Samantha has held numerous leadership positions within professional and service-oriented organizations, has served as a research and teaching assistant, and is an active volunteer within the community. Professional associations Samantha belongs to include the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), New Jersey Occupational Therapy Association (NJOTA), and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT).

Samantha has a passion for occupational therapy and helping her patients maximize their independence and participation in meaningful activity. Using evidence-based practice and keeping up-to-date on recent clinical trends, she uses a collaborative and holistic approach with her patients to design a treatment plan specific to their needs and their goals. In her free time, she enjoys collecting sea glass, playing in her beach volleyball league, spending time out in nature with her dogs, and at hockey games and other events with friends and family. Samantha looks forward to a career filled with helping her patients live their lives fully, happily, and independently.