National Recreation Therapy Service
About VHA Recreation Therapy
The Recreation Therapy Service Program is responsible for:
- Serving as the subject matter expert to the Under Secretary for Health and the Veterans Health Administration
- Developing policies and procedures aimed at improving processes and quality of recreation therapy/creative arts therapy service provided to VA patients;
- Advocating for the field and providing guidance and oversight for field-based service recreation therapy/creative arts programs;
- Serving as the recreation therapy/creative arts therapy consultant on clinical, business and policy and procedures with other VA offices, services, and/or programs; and,
- Ensuring excellence in care, education, and research to improve Veterans’ health and well-being.
National Point of Contact
David W Otto, MME, MT-BC
National Director, Recreation Therapy Service
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20420
David.Otto2@va.gov
202-461-7354
Field Advisory Committee
Lilli Shine, MSA, CTRS (CHAIR)
Chief, Recreation Therapy Service
Louis Stokes DVA Medical Center
10701 East Blvd.
Cleveland, OH 44106
Lilli.Shine@va.gov
216-791-3800 ext. 45308
Rodney D. Jackson, CTRS
Supervisory Recreation Therapist
Central Arkansas VA Medical Center
Mental Health Service
2200 Fort Roots Dr. (116/NLR)
North Little Rock, AR 72114
Rodney.Jackson1@med.va.gov
501-257-3086
Jennifer Lilly, CTRS
Chief, Voluntary Service
Coatesville VA Medical Center
1400 Black Horse Hill Road Coatesville, PA 19320
Jennifer.Lilly2@va.gov
610-383-0272
Linda Zaiontz, CTRS, MBA/HCM, VHA-CM
Chief, Recreation Therapy Service (11K)
South Texas Veterans Health Care System
7400 Merton Minter Blvd San Antonio, TX 78229
Linda.Zaiontz@va.gov
210-617-5125
Amanda Steele, CTRS
Supervisor, Recreation Therapy Service (11K)
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
795 Willow Rd (11k)
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Amanda.Steele1@va.gov
Phone: (650) 493-5000 ext. 23140
Hope Kumme, MM, MT-BC, NMT
Board Certified Neurologic Music Therapist
Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center
1201 Broad Rock Boulevard
Richmond, Virginia 23249
Hope.Kumme@va.gov
804-675-5000 ext. 6100
Erin Mooney-Simkus, LCPC, ATR-BC, CYT
Creative Arts Therapist – Board Certified Art Therapist
Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital
5000 South 5th Avenue
Hines, IL 60141
Erin.Mooney-Simkus@va.gov
708-202-7812
Heather Brown, MS, MTRS, CTRS
Recreation Therapist
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Salt Lake Healthcare System
500 Foothill Blvd, (117)
Salt Lake City, UT 84148
Heather.Brown2@va.gov
801-582-1565 ext. 1559
