Christina Bertran, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCP, CAS

Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, Assistant Professor, OT Programs

Campus

Miami, FL

College

College of Rehabilitative Sciences

Specialties

Autism Spectrum Disorder
Pediatrics
School Systems
Sensory Integration

Education

Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Boston University
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Florida International University
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University of Florida

Research Interests

Inclusion of the sibling of children with autism spectrum disorder in the therapeutic process
Parent education for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Role of OT in secondary transitioning & transitioning into adulthood

Dr. Christina Bertran has been practicing occupational therapy since 2015. She graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at Florida International University in 2015. She completed her Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) at Boston University in September 2019, where her area of focus was developing an education program for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder to promote play.

Dr. Bertran is passionate about the interdisciplinary collaboration between speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists in promoting pre-linguistic skills in children. Additionally, she is a certified fieldwork educator and is passionate about helping fieldwork students receive the highest quality of clinical education. Her clinical practice interests are focused on pediatrics, parent education, sensory integration, autism and early intervention. She has worked with the pediatric population in home health, outpatient, hospital and school-based settings.

Currently, Dr. Betran continues to see private clients in home health, where she incorporates an interdisciplinary model collaborating continuously with a speech-language pathologist to emphasize pre-linguistic skills needed for play. She is passionate about bringing awareness to the vital role of occupational therapy within secondary transition and promoting success in community and life roles after secondary education.

Dr. Bertran is also a Board Certification in Pediatrics and as a certified autism specialist. She joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences as a full-time Instructor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator on the Miami, FL campus in 2020. In December 2023, she was promoted to her current role.