Dr. Vázquez joined DePaul University in the Spring of 2023 as an Adjunct Faculty member within the Masters of Occupational Therapy Program. She is currently working in the Illinois Early Intervention Program and as an independent wheelchair and seating evaluator. Esmeralda has experience working in various pediatric settings including inpatient and outpatient and in community agencies. She also worked in the Wheelchair and Seating Center at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab and in the NICU at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital. Most recently, Esmeralda has decided to apply her skills as an occupational therapist to the pharmaceutical industry and is now also employed as the Rare Blood Disorder Community and Account Manager for Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. Throughout the years, Esmeralda has developed an interest in healthcare inequities, improving healthcare access, working with underserved populations in urban areas, and facilitating shared decision making between patients and healthcare providers.
Dr. Vázquez has presented at various national and international conferences and lectured at the University of Illinois at Chicago Master of Occupational Therapy Program and at Wilbur Wright College's Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Program on various topics including wheelchair and seating, pediatric disabilities, and healthcare inequities. She has also spoken at various advocacy organizations. She is actively involved in the National Hemophilia Foundation as a member of the National Research Blueprint making sure that the community voice is embedded in all aspects of research.
Some of her favorite occupations include hiking with her husband, working out, traveling, running with her dog Lola, reading, and volunteering. She was born and raised in Chicago and will always call this place her home.
Education:
- 2001 Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois at Chicago
- 2003 Master of Science in Occupational therapy form the University of Illinois at Chicago
- 2015 Doctor of Occupational therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago
Certifications:
- Assistive Technology Professional
- Early Intervention Specialist Evaluation/Assessment
- Early Intervention Specialist Occupational Therapy
- Leadership in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND
Professional Memberships:
- AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association)
- IOTA (Illinois Occupational Therapy Association)
- RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America)