Dr. Cristina Reyes Smith is an Associate Professor and Director of Admissions in the College of Health Professions (CHP) Division of Occupational Therapy at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Dr. Smith is the Vice President (2024 to present) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). She was named in the "Top 50 Women Leaders of South Carolina" by Women We Admire and has served in multiple national leadership roles including recently on the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Board of Directors as a Director (2020 to 2023) and on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Occupational Therapy Education (JOTE) (2020 to present).
Dr. Smith served as the Chair of the College of Health Professions Faculty Assembly (2023 to 2024). She recently served as the Chair of the MUSC Faculty Senate Institutional Advancement Committee (2021 to 2023) and currently serves as the Co-Director of the HRSA-MUSC Occupational Therapy Scholarship program (2020 to present). She teaches multiple courses on Leadership & Management, advises multiple student organizations, and mentors doctoral capstone project students in the Entry-Level and Post-Professional OTD programs. She was the Founder and Business Development Coordinator for Vida Bella Services, LLC from 2012 to 2020, a pediatric agency providing early intervention and outpatient occupational therapy and physical therapy with a focus on access to quality care throughout the greater Charleston and surrounding communities.
Dr. Smith is a graduate of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program at Thomas Jefferson University and the Masters in Occupational Therapy program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Through these programs she completed additional coursework Disabilities Studies, Global Health, and Graduate Teaching in the 21st Century. She was a participant of the 2021 MUSC Emerging Leaders Program, the 2012 AOTA Emerging Leaders Program, and the 2005-2006 MUSC Presidential Scholars Program as a Student Scholar. She has over 15 years of experience in the field and has expertise in community health promotion, program development, and leadership development with a focus on access to care. She has conducted presentations and published manuscripts locally, nationally, and internationally.
EDUCATION
Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Doctorate of Occupational Therapy 2010
--Completed Fellowship & Capstone Project—a participatory action research approach to develop a program manual promoting social participation for children with special needs
--Completed Independent study coursework:
• "Graduate Teaching in the 21st Century"
• "Disabilities Studies"
Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston, SC
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy with Honors, 2006
--MUSC Board of Visitors, Student Representative
--Presidential Scholars Program Student Fellow
--Inaugural Interprofessional Day Planning Committee, CHP Student Representative
College of Charleston, Charleston, SC
Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Minor in Chemistry, 2000
--Graduate of Honors Program
--Completed Honors Bachelor’s Essay, Tutorial, and Interdisciplinary Coursework
--Student Government Association, Secretary & Student Wellness Committee Chair
--University of Charleston Graduation Ceremony, Lead Vocalist
AWARDS & HONORS
• CHP Excellence in Service Faculty Award 2024
• Roster of Fellows of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA) Award 2023
• Nominated for MUSC College of Health Professions Distinguished Alumnus Award 2023
• Nominated for MUSC Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award 2023
• Keynote Speaker for Maine Occupational Therapy State Association Conference 2022
• Keynote Lead Speaker for Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Association Conference 2022
• World Federation of Occupational Therapy Congress Short Course Presentation 2022
• Nominated for South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association Lifetime Legacy Award 2022
• Women We Admire "The Top 50 Women Leaders of South Carolina for 2022"
• Keynote Speaker for Innovation Summit for Health Professions Education 2022
• Keynote Speaker for University of Pittsburgh OT Student Conclave 2021
• MUSC Emerging Leaders Development Program 2021
• MUSC Career Development Program: Leadership & Advancement Program 2020
• Nominated for MUSC Earl B. Higgins University Award 2020
• Nominated for MUSC President's Values in Action Award 2019
• CHP Excellence in Service Faculty Award 2018
• Keynote Speaker for Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon State Conference 2018
• Nominated for MUSC Earl B. Higgins University Award 2018
• Nominated for MUSC Earl B. Higgins University Award 2017
• Nominated for MUSC Educator-Mentor Award 2017
• Emily L. Moore and J. Herman Blake Award for Pioneer Volunteer Faculty Leaders in the CARES Therapy Pro-Bono Clinic 2013
• American Occupational Therapy Association Emerging Leaders Program Participant 2012
• Alicia Balkcum Outstanding Student Award for Occupational Therapy 2006
• CHP Alumni Association Student Scholarship Award 2006
• CHP Dean’s Honors List 2005 – 2006
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Student Scholarship Award 2005