OT and Habits

Zipporah Brown, ppOTD, MS, OTR/L, DipACLM is a licensed occupational therapist and entrepreneur committed to increasing access to education and healthcare. Dr. Brown is a first generation, higher education, trailblazer whom completed her doctoral training at University of Southern California specializing in health promotion through lifestyle optimization, occupational engagement, and community navigation for vulnerable populations; there she also co-founded the first student run diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) association within the division.

Dr. Brown is a board-certified lifestyle medicine professional, one of two occupational therapists in the entire state of Oregon with this designation. Her work focuses extensively on establishing occupational therapy’s distinct role in community-based settings, emphasizing the connection of attunement and healing. Clinically, as the inaugural occupational therapist at Linn County Department of Mental Health in Albany, Oregon, she works with individuals facing complex challenges due to physical, cognitive, developmental, and emotional factors to support them in managing their health. Additionally, Dr. Brown partners with organizations to develop community-centered health education programming with an emphasis on culturally relevant offerings.

Additionally, Dr. Brown has published articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented at state, national, and international conferences on varying topics related to psychosocial considerations for marginalized groups, increasing access to education and healthcare, as well as the value of lifestyle medicine across the lifespan. As a budding leader she has served in various leadership roles focused on amplifying student voices, establishing best practices for transformative care, and advocating for inclusivity.

Ultimately, Dr. Brown intentionally uses her formal training and lived experience to contribute to materializing impactful solutions that empower individuals and communities to heal and thrive.

Sarah Lyon, OTR/L, is the CEO of OT Potential. Sarah earned her BA from St. Olaf College and her master’s degree in occupational therapy from New York University. Her diverse clinical background spans multiple settings, including critical access, acute trauma, and state inpatient psychiatric hospitals. In 2011, she founded OT Potential to fulfill the industry's need for reliable, high-quality occupational therapy resources and continuing education.

As a recognized content creator, Sarah has collaborated with top healthcare brands like VeryWell Health, WebPT, and MedBridge. She blends her clinical expertise with a talent for creating clear, action-oriented content that empowers practitioners to excel. Passionate about elevating the OT profession, she has been featured on numerous industry podcasts. Sarah ultimately returned to her roots, running OT Potential and raising her family in her hometown of Aurora, Nebraska.