By: Mallory Bachmann
Occupational therapist joins international MDS committee, representing allied health professionals in movement disorders.
At the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, occupational therapist Lisa Warren, MHS, OTR/L, is recognized for her compassion and expertise in helping patients build confidence, restore independence, and navigate daily life with greater ease. Those same qualities have now earned her a place on the Movement Disorder Society’s Allied Health Professionals Special Interest Group (AHP-SIG) Steering Committee for the 2025–2027 term. This international recognition is not only a professional milestone but also a testament to the growing recognition of allied health professionals’ role in advancing care for those living with movement disorders.
When Warren first joined the Fixel Institute, then known as the Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, she was the only full-time therapist in the Movement Program. She also served as the sole full-time allied health professional in rehabilitation, helping lay the groundwork for what would become a growing, interdisciplinary team. Today, Warren balances her time between clinical care and administration as she continues developing her program and team, which now includes 14 rehabilitation therapists.
As her rehabilitation team expanded, so did collaboration across departments. Warren emphasizes the importance of not just working alongside other specialists, but working with them. In healthcare, a multidisciplinary team brings together providers from different specialties who contribute to a patient’s care, but often separately or at different times. At Fixel, Warren and her colleagues are proud to have built an interdisciplinary model centered on real-time, team-based communication.
“If I have a better understanding of how a patient’s medication affects them from the neurologists, or a clearer sense of their personal situation from the social worker, I can better tailor my recommendations to their individual needs,” Warren said. “We can’t treat every patient as if they’re the same. Everyone is unique.”
Within her clinical work, Warren’s top priority is ensuring that patients feel heard and understood. Many of the movement disorders treated at the Fixel Institute are considered rare in other settings, which is why patients often feel a sense of relief when they arrive, knowing they are in the hands of specialists who have cared for others with the same conditions and symptoms.
“The most rewarding part is when patients and families say, ‘You knew I had that symptom,’” Warren said. “It’s that moment of connection where they realize we truly understand what they’re going through. We see them, we get it, and we’re here to help.”
As Warren steps into her new role on the MDS AHP-SIG Steering Committee, she hopes to shine a brighter light on the essential role allied health professionals play in clinical care. She is also passionate about expanding access to interdisciplinary clinics that bring multiple rehabilitation services together under one roof, an effort she plans to advance through the seminars and webinars currently being developed at the Fixel Institute.
Looking back on her journey and ahead to what’s next, Warren reflects on the experiences that continue to inspire her and hopes her story will encourage both future healthcare professionals and the patients who remind her why this work matters. She encourages those entering the field to stay curious and open to growth.
“Take advantage of training opportunities offered by nonprofit organizations,” Warren said. “We need more therapists with a focus in movement disorders.”
For patients, Warren hopes to share an important reminder: it is never too early or too late to see a rehabilitation therapist.
“Ideally, we’d like to see patients as soon as they’re diagnosed,” she said. “They may not have bothersome symptoms yet, but getting started early and on the right path can make a big difference in their quality of life.”
Warren added that even for those further along in their journey, therapy can still make a meaningful impact.
“If you haven’t had the chance to see a therapist and now you’re noticing changes like falling, difficulty getting dressed, or challenges with speech or thinking, it’s not too late,” she said.
Her message reflects the heart of her work at the Fixel Institute, meeting patients where they are and helping them move forward with confidence and care. In every role she takes on, Warren stays committed to improving lives through understanding, teamwork, and compassionate interdisciplinary care.