Kaia is an occupational therapist (OT) who works with patients who have a traumatic brain injury or TBI. Since she was a child, Kaia has wanted to help people achieve optimal independence and reach their personal goals. Kaia works with TBI patients of all ages. She helps them with daily tasks, like dressing and brushing their teeth, and other tasks that help them improve their functional skills. She works to bridge the transition to independence after patients leave the hospital and beyond.

Why did Kaia want to be an ambassador?

As an OT, Kaia is a passionate advocate for her patients. She distributes user-friendly information to the public to raise awareness about her patients and those living with a TBI who may not be well represented. She likes that MSKTC offers plain language resources for people with a TBI, their caregivers, and the public. She also likes that MSKTC uses a variety of communication strategies. These include infocomics and videos, which target different learning styles and interests. She looks forward to becoming an affiliated resource for her community.

What does Kaia do as an ambassador?

Since she became an ambassador, Kaia has shared MSKTC resources with her patients. These resources discuss driving after a TBI, emotional changes after a TBI, and making healthy choices after a TBI. She also encourages her patients to share these resources with their friends and families. Kaia is working on a pamphlet for patients about recovery from TBI. She also wants to host a community driving event.