Maria received her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Rush University in Chicago, IL in 1988. Her career began at Rush St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago working with patients receiving acute and in-patient rehabilitation and then, hand therapy, home health care and sub-acute rehabilitation. For the last 19 years, Maria has worked in management positions working with adult patients in skilled nursing facilities who have had orthopedic, neurological, neurodegenerative, amputations, cardiac, pulmonary and/or chronic illnesses. Her management positions have required policy development; training and supervising staff occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech and language pathologists; and financial management.

In 2023, Maria started her course work and training to attain a certification in life care planning and joined Turning Point Life Care Planning. She believes her extensive clinical and management experience over the last 35 years enhances her ability to develop life care plans for individuals who have experienced catastrophic injuries or a significant functional decline.