Samantha McMillan New, OTR/L MOT

Before starting her work with families seeking educational planning from around the country and abroad, Sam served as an occupational therapist in several settings. She specialized in working with teenagers and young adults with brain injuries and/or paralysis and related neurological dysfunction at Craig Hospital, a world renowned rehabilitation hospital and research center, in Englewood, Colorado. Prior to her work at Craig, Sam was an OT practitioner at St. David’s Rehabilitation Hospital and KidsWork Therapy Services, both in Austin, Texas, where, as a bilingual speaker of English and Spanish, she treated patients from young children to young adults facing a wide range of challenges. Sam has also worked tutoring middle school students with learning challenges, creating classroom behavioral plans for students with emotional and behavioral struggles, and providing therapeutic horseback riding instruction to students with learning and developmental disabilities such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorder. In addition, she served as a clinical manager of an outpatient brain injury clinic serving young adults focused on returning to school following post-concussion syndrome or brain injury. Her extensive training and experience in working with young people with sensory integration deficits, autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, traumatic brain injury, post-concussion syndrome, and learning and intellectual disabilities makes her uniquely qualified to lead students facing these challenges through the therapeutic, college, and school planning processes.

Sam earned a dual bachelor’s of science in psychology and bachelor’s of arts degree in Spanish from Tulane University. She then completed her master’s degree in occupational therapy at Louisiana State University. Throughout her education and career, Sam has remained committed to and active in community service. She has devoted her time to suicide prevention, children experiencing loss and grief, disabled athletes and veterans, and youth sports for students with autism spectrum disorder.

Born in the NYC area, Sam grew up in Denver where she and her husband Austin, daughter Ellie, and their dogs Wiley and Nova live and enjoy their proximity to all of the beautiful and amazing outdoor activities surrounding them. They also spend a lot of time in Austin, Texas, home to Sam’s husband’s family. An avid skier, equestrian, and traveler, Sam is always on the move. Thankfully no one holds Sam responsible for being Don and Sarah’s niece.