Varsha Jayaraman Email & Phone Number

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Providing leadership support to the Toronto Central BSO Coordinating Office for Virtual Behavioural Medicine intake & triage and Centralized Access to Seniors’ Specialty units (CASS) integration

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Clinical Navigator for the Toronto Central Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) Coordinating Office providing clinical navigation, coordination, triage and complex case resolution support to the Behaviour Support Outreach Team (BSOT) and for the Virtual Behavioural Medicine (VBM) program. This includes liaising with multiple internal and external partners in various sectors across Ontario.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

For research project with Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy on Religious Meaning-Making at End of Life for Buddhist and Muslim older adults

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

For Master of Science in Occupational Therapy courses OT 1271 & 1272: Enabling Occupation in Older Adults.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Clinical role of telemedicine facilitation and case management for medically and socially complex patients throughout Toronto. The purpose is to provide homebound and complex patients with the opportunity to access specialized care through interdisciplinary consults via virtual platforms. This role involves the following: - Comprehensive in-home/residence assessment including collection of PHI, physical and cognitive assessment of patients with multiple chronic health conditions and complex syndromes in the community. - Representing TIP in the City of Toronto SPIDER Situation Table for complex care of patients in the community. Involves engaging with various community partners (Toronto Paramedics, Toronto Fire, Hoarding supports, Home Care providers, mental health workers, police, Public Health, etc.) in community-based interventions for individuals at highest risk. - Engaging and facilitating care conferences with various partners to support high-needs individuals in comprehensive care planning and establishing meaningful interventions- Facilitating multidisciplinary care conferences via OTN with partnering teams - Providing resources and education to healthcare providers for better care of community-dwelling patients with various health concerns.

Scarborough, Ontario, Canada

As the sole occupational therapist on a community-based interprofessional geriatric outreach team, I had a unique dual role using both profession-specific competencies and acting as geriatric assessor in completing Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments (CGAs) for community-dwelling seniors. My responsibilities included the following:- Completing cognitive assessments, physical exams and collecting comprehensive histories.- Assessing and providing patient-centred treatment/interventions. This involves providing strategies and education on managing geriatric syndromes including cognitive/neurological disorders (i.e. dementia), BPSD, falls, mental health, pain, etc.- Managing a caseload of over 50 patients at a time as Patient Lead providing ongoing intensive community support to patients and caregivers with community-based interventions. This also involved numerous connections with community-based care providers, hospitals, mental health supports and government-funded supports (e.g. OPGT, police, LHIN community care)- Completing education sessions and presentations for community members and service providers on geriatric services, GAIN, SPLC and Falls Prevention.- Local/regional committee participation and leadership including leading GAIN Scarborough Cluster meetings and participating in GAIN regional meetings.- Providing supervision, support and mentorship to student therapists during clinical placements and orientation/supervision to new clinicians.

Brampton & Etobicoke, On

I provided float and casual coverage as OT for multiple acute and rehabilitation units across two hospitals. My responsibilities included:- Completing assessments and treatment planning for a wide variety of diagnoses and ailments on various units including: respirology, cardiology, general medicine, acute unit for the elderly, ICU/CCU, orthopaedic/general surgery, neurology, oncology/palliative care, rehabilitation- Completing physical and cognitive assessments and providing appropriate ADL recommendations, equipment recommendations, and community resource referrals for patients. - Participating in daily interprofessional rounds and patient/family conferences for discuss patient needs, goals and discharge planning- Adapting clinical skills for multiple units, including documentation on Meditech, prioritization, and selection of appropriate and relevant assessments for various patient needs/concerns

Toronto, Canada Area

At VHA, I was an OT for two teams: Adult Community supports and School Health Support Services. My responsibilities included:- Completing comprehensive assessments to identify occupational performance concerns with gross/fine motor skills, sensory needs and implemented strategies to meet family-centred goals - Completing comprehensive home assessments to assess home safety and equipment needs for adults in the community- Researching and connecting with community resources for clients to enable optimal engagement in occupations for clients limited by funding, finances or social situations in the community- Provided and trialled various types of home equipment with clients and provided safety education. I also assisted in finding funding for equipment, writing support letters and assisted in initiating Assistive Device Program applications.

Machakos, Kenya

• Partnered in the creation and facilitation of a psychosocial rehabilitation toolkit for persons with serious mental illness in the Machakos Region of Kenya• Liaised with project partners and community members on the development of a social enterprise for members of the Machakos community with serious mental illness• Worked with a recovery-oriented approach to community development and psychosocial rehabilitation

Oshawa, On

• Conducted assessments and interventions on various patient populations in the acute care environment (including but not limited to post-operative orthopaedic, acute surgical, medical, geriatric rehabilitation, palliative, and acute mental health departments)• Completed comprehensive cognitive, neurological, physical and environmental assessments on patients • Devised and conducted comprehensive treatment plans for various patient populations• Participated in interprofessional team-based therapeutic interventions and discharge planning• Assisted in conducting wheelchair and mobility assessments• Provided inter-agency referrals to patients with various needs• Participated in various in-service opportunities (pharmaceutical interventions and OT/PT, the importance of back support in mobility, signs and symptoms of aging, etc.)• Shadowing in critical care, oncology/nephrology, Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit and Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Network Clinic (GAIN)

Kingston, On

• Designed and developed an online learning platform for healthcare workers on intellectual disability/developmental disabilities education • Provided training resources for agencies to use to hone community awareness and knowledge of ID/DD• Worked with interprofessional teams to consult and collaborate best practices for working with persons with ID/DD’s (including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, etc.)• Liaised with agencies/institutions to facilitate engagement in programs to promote knowledge

Kingston, On

• Assisted with arts-based programming for adults with intellectual disabilities • Conducted assessments, interventions and discharge planning with client with self-direction and organization, scheduling own appointments • Facilitated and assisted group classes in art, dance, music, American Sign Language, film and recreational trips• Worked with clients on an individual basis to facilitate participation and communication throughout programs• Attended 1 interprofessional clinic (with psychiatrist, psychologist, occupational therapist) for adolescents with developmental disabilities at Queen’s Developmental Disabilities Consulting Programs

Toronto, On

• Assisted in the planning, organization and implementation of 31 local Parkinson SuperWalks in the Central and Northern Ontario region• Interviewed individuals with Parkinson’s and produced profile pieces for distribution to local media • Liaised with local media outlets to disseminate education and awareness about Parkinson’s disease and the SuperWalk

Oshawa, On

• Assisted with 2 programs: School-Age Children’s Treatment Program, Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) Program• Independently planned, developed, and facilitated treatment sessions using a variety of paediatric assessment tools, wrote numerous clinical reports and liaised with other healthcare professionals for children with a variety of disabilities and complex conditions (i.e. Prader Willi Syndrome, Cri du Chat Syndrome, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, Rett Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ABI, neurofibromatosis, pervasive developmental disorder, FASD etc.)• Helped clients with improving fine motor skills, memory, cognition, ADLs and adaptive technology • Assisted with group therapy including basic skills/ADLs classes, fine motor skills workshops, and adaptive technology workshops• Helped conduct home visits to assess, develop treatment strategies, prescribe adaptive equipment for home use, and make recommendations for home modifications• Observed paediatric therapy sessions with various healthcare providers conducting a variety of therapies (casting, physical therapy, Botox injections and post-injection therapy)

Toronto, Canada Area

• Helped to plan, organize, implement and lead a community theatre project to commemorate the War of 1812• Independently researched and analyzed archival primary documents on the War of 1812• Interviewed experts in the field for cross-examination of research• Created promotional materials, including posters, flyers, banners, etc., for this event and other events at Lakeshore Arts and Sirius Theatrical Company, using Adobe programs• Administrative duties included answering emails, liaising with facilities, communicating with local agencies etc.

Kingston, On

• Assisted with research projects for various exhibits at the Museum for presentation to the public, including scholarly searches, material searches, uncovering of archival data, and primary research • Assisted in researching and writing pieces about the history of nursing at Kingston General Hospital for an app that acted as a virtual walking tour of the history of the hospital • Independently researched and wrote articles for online blog and local publications

Kingston, On

• Assisted with and researched many projects to trace the diversity present at Queen’s University including staff, faculty and students• Administrative tasks including filing, compiling, answering emails and dissemination of information

Scarborough, On

• Participated in research projects tracing the socioeconomic development of at-risk women and children in the Greater Toronto Area• Clerical duties, including answering phones, emails, conducting referrals

Master Of Science (M.Sc.), Occupational Therapy/Therapist

Activities and Societies: 2014-2015 Formal Co-Chair (OT Representative), Queen’s Rehabilitation Therapy Society; 2014-2015 Society.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), History

Activities and Societies: 2012-2013 Editor of Queen’s CultureShock: Anti-Racist Review; 2012-2013 Marketing Director Queen’s Crohn’s &.

Bachelor Of Arts - First Year Abroad Program, General Arts

A unique study abroad program that offered undergraduate-level coursework combined with fieldwork education.