Meet our Spotlight OT Entrepreneur.. Amirra! She is a pediatric Occupational Therapist and a Certified Newborn Care Specialist currently living and working in Phoenix, Arizona. Amirra practices in the Early Intervention setting and is an integral part of a team committed to serving the needs of families and children in the community. She aligns with this months OT Objective Box theme "Rising Up" effortlessly. In 2020, Amirra founded Marvelous Mirracles Pediatric Therapy, LLC which provides resources to OT practitioners and families. Continue reading below to learn about her entrepreneurial journey and advice for new Occupational Therapy Practitioners.
1. What led you to pursue Occupational Therapy as a career?
When I was 6 years old, my little brother was born and from that moment on I knew that I
wanted to work with babies in some capacity “when I grew up”. Fast forward a few years,
I became interested in medicine and decided I wanted to be a Pediatrician. I attended a
medical camp where I learned about neonatology and a passion for the NICU was born.
I spent my first two year of undergraduate school as a Biology major on the pre-med
track. While I loved Biology, I absolutely despised Chemistry – for this, and a few other
reasons, I started to question if medicine was the right path for me. At the time, I was
nannying for a hand occupational therapist. I asked her about her profession and
learned I could combine my love for pediatrics, medicine, and even psychology and
well…the rest is history!
2. What is your favorite thing about being an Occupational Therapist?
I love that the possibilities for what you can do and be as an OT are…quite literally
endless. I am constantly learning about non-traditional practice areas and exploring the
many ways we can change lives across the entire lifespan. And in changing lives, we are
able to form these beautiful connections with our families, patients, and clients we have
the honor of working with.
3. What settings and populations do you have experience working with?
I have been working in Early Intervention with the birth to three population since I
graduated. I also have experience in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from my clinical
rotations and doctoral research while in OT school.
4. What sparked your idea for Marvelous Mirracles Pediatric Therapy, LLC?
I have always loved the idea of owning my own business – though I did not think it was
something I would pursue so soon after graduation! Initially, I formed Marvelous
Mirracles Pediatric Therapy, LLC to do independent contracting and consulting in
pediatric home health. I was working full-time in Early Intervention but wanted to make
sure my skills with the older kiddo’s also stayed fresh, so I contracted with a company
and starting working as an independent contractor doing assessments, evaluations, and
treatments as Marvelous Mirracles Pediatric Therapy, LLC!
5. Explain what Marvelous Mirracles is for those who don’t know!
While Marvelous Mirracles initially started as independent contracting, it has now evolved into a brand I am so excited about! Marvelous Mirracles is a platform designed to empower and equip therapists and families with the tools and resources to help little mirracles fulfill big dreams – this includes coaching parents and even creating content and services that will help both families and therapists working with infants and toddlers to encourage overall healthy child development.
6. How long have you been in business?
I formed my LLC in January 2020 so it’s been a little over a year now! I started building
the Marvelous Mirracles brand in April 2020 so I’ve been doing the content creation and
blogging aspect for just shy of a year.
7. What is one long term goal you have for your business?
My long-term goal for Marvelous Mirracles is to continue implementing, exploring, and
creating new techniques and products that empower families and therapists working with
the infant and toddler population.
8. What is the most challenging thing about running your own business?
Remember to not bite off more than I can chew! There are so many different facets of
what I do. Aside from the direct treatment I provide (virtually for now), I also create
educational content, blog, and participate in various speaking engagements. I absolutely
love everything I do within my brand, but I have had to learn how to not say “yes” to all
the opportunities – even though I really want to! I am constantly reminding myself that
rest is productive, and I cannot pour from an empty cup. So, prioritizing myself and my
mental health can be a challenge, but it is such an important part of running a successful
business.
9. What is the most rewarding thing about running your own business?
I love knowing that I have impacted someone – whether it’s a parent, kiddo, or therapist.
It is such a special part of having a business, especially one that is born out of
something you are so passionate about. I am simply doing what I love for a living which
is a reward itself! The impact I am able to make is just the cherry on top and what truly
keeps me going, even when the journey gets tough.
10. What does a typical week look like for you?
This is always such a tough question for me to answer because it varies from week to
week! I am currently practicing via teletherapy so between M-F during the day I am
typically seeing kiddo’s in Early Intervention or pediatric home health. I also work on
creating content for social media, writing blog posts, and of course brain dumping for my
future goals and plans!
11. What advice do you have for Occupational Therapy Students or New Grads?
My advice is to remember that you do not have to choose a specialty, to be a special
OT. Occupational Therapy is a wonderful career and there is so much you can do as an
OT – there is a niche that’s sure to fit what you love, what you’re passionate about, and
where your interest lies. Whether you’re a student or new grad, don’t feel pressured to
have to decide exactly what you want to specialize in so early in your career. It’s okay if
you’re still figuring it out or still learning what it means to just be an OT. You don’t have
to take a million expensive courses right away. No one expects you to be an expert on
one topic. Enjoy the journey and enjoy what it means to simply be an OT…because
that’s a wonderful thing in itself.
Connect with her!
Website: www.marvelousmirracles.com Sign up for her email list to snag a FREE sensory development guide!Instagram - marvelousmirracles.otFacebook Page - marvelousmirracles.otClubhouse - marvelousmirra