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Session Description

Join Heidi Carpenter, OTD, OTR/L, MLS, former ArizOTA President and Advocate, as she draws from her decade of experience as an occupational therapist and additional education to become a legal paraprofessional focused on administrative law. Dr. Carpenter will share tangible, real-world strategies that empower OT practitioners and students to engage effectively in advocacy. Sharing lessons learned from experience collaborating with ArizOTA’s Legislative Affairs Committee, the association’s legislative advocate at the Arizona State Legislature, and her time interning with an education advocacy clinic, this session will provide actionable insights on how to navigate policy conversations, build relationships with key contributors, and influence systems change. Whether you are in the clinic or advocating at the Capitol, this session will empower participants to take the next steps to becoming confident, informed everyday advocates for the occupational therapy profession.

Speaker Bio

Heidi Carpenter, OTD, OTR/L, MLS, RYT200

Founder and CEO of TEAM for All, Inc.

Dr. Heidi Carpenter is an occupational therapist, educator, and policy advocate based in Tucson, Arizona. With a deep commitment to advancing the profession of occupational therapy, she brings a distinct blend of clinical, academic, and legal expertise to her work. Heidi earned her Doctor of Occupational Therapy from Creighton University in 2014 and completed a Master of Legal Studies with a Legal Paraprofessional Certificate and Health Law for Health Professionals Certificate from the University of Arizona College of Law in 2024. 

Currently, Heidi is the Doctoral Capstone Coordinator and an Assistant Professor at Huntington University Arizona in the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program. Clinically, Heidi specializes in early intervention and also has a passion for integrating therapeutic yoga into occupational therapy practice. Her interdisciplinary expertise has fueled her interest in healthcare policy, regulation, and advocacy, especially as they relate to practitioner scope of practice, licensure, and consumer access to OT services.

Heidi served as the President of the Arizona Occupational Therapy Association (ArizOTA) from July 2021 to June 2025, where she led statewide initiatives to strengthen professional engagement, grow membership, and support advocacy activities. Her leadership included mentoring ArizOTA’s first Capstone Student, launching the Association’s own Conference website, and supporting OT and OTA student organizations across Arizona.

Heidi has presented at state and national conferences and has co-authored peer-reviewed publications focused on healthcare practice and professional development. She is passionate about building bridges between academia, clinical practice, and advocacy efforts. She intends to bring her voice as a legally-minded practitioner and educator to inspire others to step into their role as everyday advocates.