Dr. Michele Alaniz, OTD, BCP, OTR/L, is a highly skilled pediatric occupational therapist with 20 years of experience transforming children's lives through play-based interventions. As a board certified specialist in pediatrics, she has achieved a distinction held by less than 1% of all OTs nationwide, demonstrating her expertise and dedication to the field. Dr. Alaniz has also completed advanced training in sensory integration, earning SIPT certification after more than 100 hours of coursework. Her expertise in this area has enabled her to develop innovative and effective interventions that have helped countless children overcome sensory challenges and improve their motor skills. In addition, she is a published researcher with articles in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy and the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. In 2024, Dr. Alaniz was awarded the prestigious Innovation Award from NBCOT, celebrating her work in aquatics and autism. Dr. Alaniz is the director of pediatrics at a non-profit, outpatient, interdisciplinary clinic in Southern California. She is passionate about innovating, implementing and promoting interventions to improve the quality of life of the children and families she serves.