When prospective students imagine their instructors in the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program at Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC), they might expect someone who started teaching or clinical work early in life. Tana Tenold’s path followed a less traditional route.
Tana began her professional career in marketing, advertising, and event planning. “I loved the creativity and fast pace of marketing and events, but eventually I wanted to find work that directly improves people’s lives in a meaningful way,” she recalls. That yearning led her to occupational therapy, a field she describes as blending “problem-solving, creativity, and compassion” with her marketing skills including organization, communication, and professionalism.
Occupational therapy (OT) helps people of all ages take part in the everyday activities that matter most to them—at home, school, work, and in the community. Occupational therapy practitioners support clients by helping them build skills, adapt to challenges, or find new ways to do tasks when illness, injury, disability, or disease makes life harder. This might include helping a child succeed in school, supporting an adult after surgery, or working with an older adult to stay safe and independent. By focusing on daily activities and meaningful goals, OT empowers people to live with greater independence, confidence, and quality of life.
Tana’s entry into OT was influenced by training as “part of the very first SFCC OTA graduating class.” That experience shaped not only her experience as a student but also her commitment as an educator. “We were pioneers. We had to trust the process, lean on each other, and help shape traditions that still continue today.” That formative cohort taught her about flexibility, resilience, and innovation — qualities she now brings into her teaching.
For students wondering whether a major mid-career transition is feasible, Tana offers a powerful example: “I learned that it’s never too late to realign your career with your values. Skills from my first career — like communication, organization, and creativity — translated beautifully into OT. A career change isn’t starting over; it’s building on what you already know.” Her own journey makes her uniquely able to mentor students making similar leaps.
Over the course of her clinical career, Tana has practiced in a wide range of settings, including acute care, geriatric psychiatry, and skilled nursing. This diversity of experience gives her a broad and balanced perspective that she now shares in the classroom. She emphasizes that while each population presents unique challenges and requires different skills, the ultimate goal remains the same: supporting clients in achieving greater independence and participation in daily life. “Acute care is fast-paced, intense, and full of variety. Psychiatry emphasizes connection and the therapeutic use of self. Skilled nursing focuses on steady progress toward long-term goals. Each setting brings its own lessons and strengths. With so many diverse populations, I love that with OT you can change your job without changing your career.”
As an instructor and the program’s fieldwork coordinator, Tana draws directly from those clinical roots. “I can engage students with real-life scenarios and practical insights that textbooks can’t capture,” she says. Tana especially treasures witnessing students’ growth: “I love seeing the ‘aha’ moments when students connect classroom knowledge with clinical practice. … Watching their confidence grow is deeply rewarding.” In her role, she guides students across two years of coursework and into fieldwork placements, helping them build “a skilled profession in two years that leads to a rewarding, livable-wage career.”
One of the richest parts of the OTA pathway is fieldwork, where classroom theory is put into practice. Tana emphasizes that fieldwork “is where theory comes alive. Students learn not just skills, but professional identity — how to problem-solve, communicate with a team, and advocate for clients. It bridges the gap between knowing and doing.”
For Tana, the SFCC OTA program offers distinctions worth noting. Because the program is relatively small, students form close relationships with faculty and peers, creating a “supportive, collaborative environment.” That sense of connection, she says, makes a difference when students start something new — especially those coming from other careers.
To prospective students who feel nervous or uncertain, Tana offers this encouragement: “Believe in yourself and trust the process. Everyone feels nervous at first, but you don’t go through this program alone — you have faculty, classmates, and mentors who want to see you succeed. Focus on progress, not perfection.”
Learn more about the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Spokane Falls Community College.