Lauren Telesmanic, OTD, OTR/L

Dr. Telesmanic values teaching and mentoring future practitioners through an all-inclusive, collaborative learning environment. Her focus on real-life practice, interprofessional education, and service-learning, cultivates informed and reflective practitioners, skilled to meet the demands of an ever-changing world.

Dr. Lauren Telesmanic began her career as an occupational therapist in acute care, before devoting the next 23 years of clinical practice to the pediatric population. She has worked in a variety of settings including early intervention, preschool, public schools, and special education private schools. Her doctoral work focused on promoting youth mental health through an online professional development continuing education program for educators. Dr. Telesmanic’s strong passion for occupational justice has led to the development and implementation of several projects, such as a life skills lab for adolescents with disabilities transitioning into adulthood and sensory friendly classrooms for students in a special education program. Furthermore, her advocacy of health promotion and wellness for high risk, underserved populations fostered the creation of P.R.O.D.U.C.E (Providing Remarkable Opportunities Dedicated to Unearthing Children’s Education). Featured in Wagenfeld and Marder (2024), Nature Based Allied Health Practice, P.R.O.D.U.C.E is a community and population health program utilizing local resources to promote vocational skills, food security, and healthy nutrition for at-risk youth. Dr. Telesmanic has been a clinical fieldwork educator throughout her career and as a supervisor, established and maintained contracts with numerous colleges and universities to uphold a sustainable clinical fieldwork site. Dr. Telesmanic values teaching and mentoring future practitioners through an all-inclusive, collaborative learning environment. Her focus on real-life practice, interprofessional education, and service-learning, cultivates informed and reflective practitioners, skilled to meet the demands of an ever-changing world.