Terri Ellison, OTR/L

Terri Ellison, OTR/L is a research/Occupational Therapist 2 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. After a successful, long-term career with a Fortune 100 company, Terri returned to school and received her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Middle Tennessee State University and master’s degree from Tennessee State University for Occupational Therapy. Embarking on her new career in OT, Terri joined a hand therapy practice within a large outpatient therapy company where she was able to successfully grow the business in her territory, even expanding into new sites. From there, Terri worked for a family-owned home health agency where she enjoyed the ability to not only assess and treat her patients within their homes but also had the opportunity to assist the company’s leadership in training and providing support to the company’s therapy team during the transition from paper records to a newly acquired EMR. During both of these full-time positions, Terri also volunteered for two international mission’s trips. The first agency was located in Kitale, Kenya where she could lend her OT skills to an orphanage and school that her church had partnered with while she was serving with the mission’s team there. Secondly Terri joined a team of therapist who were tasked with training up a small staff of local volunteers for the birth of a special needs pediatric therapy clinic and school in Thomazeau, Haiti. Following her servant’s heart, Terri has had a strong desire to join academia, research, and discover new ways to further her discipline.  

Family and friends are a top priority to Terri, especially her grandson, Ronan. Terri is an avid animal lover with 2 dogs (Simon and Bear) and her horse, Waylon. If the sun is out, Terri and her friends love to find themselves on a riding trail somewhere or exploring small towns across the state checking out their antiques/boutiques. Terri is excited to join the VUMC/CIBS team.