Making the Leap: Samantha Ichoa’s Path from OT to Health Tech

Current Role: Clinical Specialist at HappyNeuron Pro

Making a career pivot from clinical practice to a non-clinical role can feel daunting—but with the right guidance, it’s entirely possible. Samantha Ichoa, an occupational therapist, recently made the leap into a non-clinical career in health tech. Here’s her story, in her own words.

What inspired you to transition from a clinical role as an occupational therapist to a non-clinical career?

“I was intrigued by other therapists’ on various social media platforms who transitioned, and their stories of professional growth and increased value. Early in my OT career, I was working in a low-paying state with high patient volumes. Ultimately, I knew this wasn’t sustainable mentally, physically, and financially. I was curious to know what else I could do within the disabilities/rehabilitation realm to use my skills in a new way. Once I saw a friend make the non-clinical ‘jump’, I knew I wanted to move forward myself.”

How did participating in the Collective Coaching program shape your approach to making this career pivot?

“It completely rewired my thinking. It was like learning a new language and culture. The healthcare world is a lot different from business, and this bridged the gap so I could confidently research, network, and speak to players in the health-tech environment. It gave me insight into a different professional market, as well as skill-building, such as resume tips, how to network, and how to position yourself within your current role to gain experiences to propel yourself towards your future goals.”

What challenges did you face during the transition, and how did the program or other resources help you navigate them?

“There are many personal and professional hurdles to overcome with a career transition. Professionally, I wasn’t sure I had the right skills and did not know how to market myself. There are so many people applying for these positions…what would actually make me stand out? Personally, I struggled with feeling guilty for leaving direct patient care, as well as a cross-country move and a growing family. The program helped me define my aim for the roles I truly wanted – as I always found myself in roles I am truly passionate about, instead of blindly applying to open roles. It also helped me see what I could do to position myself for a transition based on my own timeline. I wasn’t looking to transition right away, but Collective Coaching helped me both 1) Network for project-based work and 2) Reframe my current roles within my OT position. These two factors helped set me up for future success.”

In what ways did your background as an occupational therapist/clinician prepare you for success in your current non-clinical role?

“In my current role, we offer a SaaS platform to hospitals, clinics, private practices, individual clinicians, etc. As a clinician myself, my background helps me speak both languages between the healthcare users and sales/marketing teams. I can troubleshoot clinical-based concerns and work through pain points. In addition, I have a deep understanding of our target audience for marketing purposes and product development.”

What advice would you give to other clinicians considering a similar move, and how might Collective Coaching be helpful to them?

“Doing things on your own timeline is ok! I thought about transitioning for a long time before taking the Collective Coaching workshop. Collective Coaching helped me position myself for a job change before an anticipated multi-state move. Just because ‘now’ is not your time, doesn’t mean it’s not around the corner.”