Pioneers in Practice

Lead the Future of OT in Nevada

What if the next breakthrough in Nevada's OT community starts with you?

The Nevada Occupational Therapy Association is launching Pioneers in Practice, an innovative leadership development pilot designed to equip emerging OT professionals with the skills, networks, and confidence to shape the future of our profession.

This isn't another certificate program. This is your chance to lead real change—with expert mentorship, collaborative peers, and direct impact on Nevada's OT community.

Why this Program Exists

Nevada's occupational therapy community needs leaders who can:

  • Advocate effectively for our profession with legislators, administrators, and the public
  • Navigate complex healthcare systems and policy landscapes
  • Build collaborative networks across practice settings and specialties
  • Drive innovation in service delivery and professional development
  • Strengthen NOTA's capacity to serve members and advance our mission

Drawing from evidence-based leadership development research (Harvard Business School, MIT Leadership Center, Center for Creative Leadership), Pioneers in Practice combines mentorship, experiential learning, and developmental progression to prepare you for leadership impact.

What Makes this Program Different

Real Mentorship, Real Support

You'll be paired with an experienced Nevada OT leader for monthly one-on-one meetings. This isn't networking—it's sustained, personalized guidance from someone invested in your success.

Action-Based Learning

No passive lectures. You'll work in small teams on actual initiatives aligned with NOTA's strategic priorities—advocacy campaigns, member resources, community partnerships, or professional development programs. Your work will have immediate impact.

Developmental Design

The program mirrors how leadership actually develops:

  1. Self-Awareness → Understanding your values, strengths, and leadership identity
  2. Influence → Building relationships and inspiring shared purpose
  3. Systems Thinking → Seeing the bigger picture and strategic leverage points
  4. Strategic Action → Leading initiatives that create measurable change
Built for Busy Professionals

We know you're juggling clinical work, continuing education, and life. The program uses flexible virtual formats, plain language (no leadership jargon), and respects your time with structured, purposeful sessions.

Program Components

Kickoff Retreat | January 2026 -- Half-day virtual launch introducing leadership frameworks, program expectations, and your cohort community. Meet your mentor and project teams.

Monthly Virtual Workshops | January–July 2026 -- Five themed sessions (90 minutes each) on essential leadership capabilities:

  • Communicating OT's value across audiences
  • Advocacy strategies and policy engagement
  • Collaborative leadership and conflict navigation
  • Ethical decision-making in complex situations
  • Building and sustaining professional networks

Mentor Meetings | Monthly -- Structured one-on-one conversations with your assigned mentor. Come prepared with successes, challenges, and questions. Leave with guidance, connections, and accountability.

Action Project | January–July 2026 -- Your team selects a real challenge facing Nevada's OT community and develops a solution. Past leadership cohorts in other professions have launched advocacy campaigns, created member resources, established new partnerships, and influenced policy. What will you create?

DAC Reflection Pods | Monthly -- Small peer groups exploring the DAC Framework—how you're building Direction (shared purpose), Alignment (coordinated effort), and Commitment (shared responsibility) in your leadership work. This is where honest reflection happens.

Leadership Portfolio | Ongoing -- Document your growth journey with leadership artifacts, reflections on key experiences, feedback from mentors and peers, and evidence of developing capabilities. This becomes your personal leadership roadmap.

Capstone Presentation | NOTA Rise Conference, June 2026 -- Showcase your action project and leadership growth to Nevada's OT community. Receive recognition for your contributions and officially join NOTA's leadership pipeline.

What You'll Gain

By completing Pioneers in Practice, you will:

  • Develop concrete leadership skills validated by evidence-based assessment (pre/post measurement)
  • Build lasting relationships with mentors and peers who become your professional network
  • Gain visibility within NOTA and Nevada's broader OT community
  • Create tangible impact through your action project—something you can point to and say "I led that"
  • Understand systems affecting OT practice, from reimbursement to regulation to workforce development
  • Discover your leadership voice and how to use it effectively in diverse settings
  • Join a community of OT leaders committed to Nevada's profession

Program Timeline

October–December 2025

Application period opens; mentor recruitment

January 2026

Kickoff retreat; mentor introductions; pre-program assessment

January–July 2026

Monthly workshops, mentor meetings, action projects, reflection pods

June 2026

Capstone presentations at NOTA Rise Conference; program celebration

Guiding Principles

Pioneers in Practice is built on six foundational commitments:

  • Values-Driven & Mission-Aligned - Every element connects to NOTA's vision for a connected, empowered OT community.
  • Relational & Contextual - Leadership happens through relationships. We use the DAC Framework (Direction, Alignment, Commitment) to build collaborative capacity.
  • Mentorship Embedded - Sustained guidance from experienced leaders accelerates your growth and expands your possibilities.
  • Developmentally Staged - You'll progress through proven stages: self-awareness → influence → systems thinking → strategic action.
  • Experiential & Action-Based - Learning by doing. Your leadership develops through real projects with real impact.
  • Inclusive & Accessible - Designed for Nevada's geographic diversity and busy professionals. No one is excluded due to location, schedule, or experience level.

How We'll Measure Success

This is a pilot program—we're learning alongside you. We'll evaluate impact through:

  • Pre/post leadership self-assessments measuring growth across core capabilities
  • Team check-ins using the DAC Framework (direction, alignment, commitment)
  • Mentor feedback on participant progress
  • Peer and board evaluation of capstone presentations
  • Participant reflection on meaningful experiences and applied learning

Your feedback will shape future iterations, ensuring Pioneers in Practice becomes a sustainable pipeline for Nevada's OT leadership.

Sustainability & Future Vision

This pilot is designed to become an annual cohort-based program that:

  • Creates ongoing leadership development opportunities for NOTA members
  • Builds a mentorship culture where program alumni support future cohorts
  • Attracts grant funding from organizations like AOTF and workforce development initiatives
  • Provides annual recognition at NOTA conferences
  • Establishes clear pathways for leadership readiness and advancement

You're not just joining a program—you're helping build a lasting infrastructure for leadership in Nevada's OT community.

Application Process

Applications Open: December 2025
Application Deadline: December 19, 2025
Notification: January 2, 2026
Program Begins: January 2026

What We’re Looking For

We seek participants — both mentors and mentees — who demonstrate:

  • Curiosity about leadership and professional growth
  • Commitment to Nevada’s OT community
  • Willingness to step outside comfort zones
  • Desire to contribute, not just consume
  • Openness to feedback and reflection
  • Collaborative spirit and respect for diverse perspectives

No prior leadership experience required. We value diverse practice settings, career stages, and perspectives.

Application Components

  1. Brief professional background and NOTA involvement
  2. Leadership development goals (what you hope to gain)
  3. Ideas for potential action projects addressing Nevada OT challenges
  4. Availability for program timeline and time commitment
  5. One professional reference

Who Should Apply

Mentees

We're seeking 6-10 emerging leaders who are:

  • OT students ready to step into professional leadership
  • Early-career practitioners (0-5 years) wanting to expand their influence
  • Experienced clinicians transitioning into advocacy, education, or management roles
  • Anyone passionate about strengthening occupational therapy in Nevada

You don't need leadership experience—just commitment to growth and contribution.

Apply to be a Mentee

Who Should Apply

Mentors

We're seeking 6-10 leaders who are:

  • Willing to share their time and wisdom
  • Committed to ongoing learning and development -- both for themselves and others
  • Experienced clinicians transitioning into advocacy, education, or management roles
  • Anyone passionate about strengthening occupational therapy in Nevada

You don't need leadership experience—just commitment to growth and contribution.

Apply to be a Mentor