Board of Commissioners

Ms. Barbara Ostrove, MA, OTR/L, FAOTA has 37 years clinical experience as a behavioral and mental health clinician working with children, adolescents and adults. Working within an inpatient, acute care setting she expanded group programing to include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, arts-based groups, and developed sensory de-escalation programs which reduced the use of seclusion and restraint.

Under her leadership the occupational therapy department and clinical education program expanded significantly, with the clinical education program drawing students from across the nation. Aside from her clinical role, Ms. Ostrove was a facilitator of the Care New England Leadership Development program. This multidisciplinary program provided training on leadership skills, conflict resolution, and team building.

Ms. Ostrove began volunteering as an academic accreditor in 2004 and has completed over 50 accreditation visits at both OT and OTA programs. Her six years on the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) included service on the Executive Committee and as mentoring chair. In 2016, after 12 years as a volunteer, Ms. Ostrove was offered the position of Assistant Director of Accreditation/Risk Manager at the American Occupational Therapy Association where she worked until retiring in 2022.

Since retiring Ms. Ostrove continues to serve as a volunteer accreditor and has begun working as a consultant to occupational therapy programs in the accreditation process. She is passionate about the need for improved behavioral and mental health care and developing the role for occupational therapy in community settings.