Sarah Grinder

Sarah Grinder is a Lecturer in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Southern Maine's College of Science, Technology and Health. She holds a BA in Religion (Hillsdale College, 2005), MOT in Occupational Therapy (USM, 2013), and is currently a PhD Student in Occupational Therapy at Nova Southeastern University. Her clinical expertise focuses on pediatric occupational therapy in early childhood settings and school-based practice, alongside program development for college students with disabilities.

Research interests include integrating Native American perspectives into occupational science, addressing healthcare disparities for Indigenous populations, and workforce development in healthcare professions. She teaches courses in pediatrics, ethics, occupational justice, research design, and OT foundations.

Awarded the RISE Pathway Program Scholarship (2025-2027), Sarah co-chaired the 2022-2024 Gloria S. Duclos Convocation focused on Indigenous sovereignty. She actively participates in organizations like the Society for the Study of Occupation (SSO:USA), OT-U collaborative, and Occupational Therapy for Native Americans (OTNA). Locally, she contributes to the Maine Occupational Therapy Association and Maine Trykers.

Sarah advocates for culturally safe pathways for Native students in healthcare and emphasizes occupational therapy's role in educational settings. She collaborates with practitioners on program evaluation and supports doctoral students' applied research.