Tyler Szlempa, COTA/L
Lead Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Sprenger Health Care Systems – Amherst Manor Retirement Community
A Career That Started with a Different Goal
Tyler Szlempa, COTA/L, has built an inspiring career in healthcare, beginning as a State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) and working his way to becoming the lead Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) at Amherst Manor Retirement Community, part of Sprenger Health Care Systems. His journey reflects not only his dedication to patient care but also the value of the EHOVE/Lorain County Community College (LCCC) Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.
Tyler began his healthcare career in 2016 with aspirations of becoming a nurse. “I discovered the STNA program through Lorain County Community College and decided to complete it that summer,” he recalled. “I knew I would gain valuable experience, but I didn’t realize the path it would set me on.”
While working as an STNA in a skilled nursing facility, Tyler became intrigued by the therapy interventions he observed. Seeing firsthand how occupational therapy could preserve and promote functional success sparked a new passion.
Choosing the EHOVE/LCCC OTA Program
The EHOVE/LCCC OTA program was a natural fit for Tyler. Already enrolled at LCCC, he appreciated the flexibility to work while attending classes, and the program’s local accessibility made the decision even easier.
Dr. Teri LaGuardia, OTD, MOT, OTR/L, Program Director and Assistant Professor of the EHOVE/LCCC OTA Program, remembers Tyler well. “Tyler was an exemplary student and a role model for others. He didn’t hesitate to ask for help or dig deeper into challenging concepts, and he built strong relationships with his cohort that created a supportive learning environment.”
Tyler describes the program as “unforgettable,” not only for the knowledge gained but also for the lasting relationships with classmates and instructors. “My instructors played a major role in my success. I never felt looked down upon—it felt like a partnership in learning,” he said.
When COVID-19 disrupted his Level II rotations, Tyler demonstrated resilience. “His first rotation was a non-traditional mental health placement, and he was instrumental in developing it,” LaGuardia explained. “Then, when his hospital-based second rotation was delayed by the pandemic, he adapted quickly and excelled, earning high scores in a very demanding setting.”
Inside the EHOVE/LCCC OTA Program
The EHOVE/LCCC program prepares students for diverse careers in occupational therapy. While job placement rates are difficult to track, LaGuardia notes that “many of our graduates receive job offers before even taking their board exam.” Graduates work in hospitals, schools, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, home health, and even community-based mental health programs.
Students complete fieldwork in both traditional settings—such as hospitals, schools, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, and home health—and non-traditional ones, including mental health support programs. Prerequisites include Intro to Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology I, College Composition, Statistics, Career Explorations in Occupational Therapy, and Introduction to the LCCC Community, with a 2.5 GPA and a minimum grade of C in all required courses.
Networking opportunities abound: students volunteer at the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association annual conference, interact with guest lecturers, and collaborate with OT and OTA programs across the state. The program is a partnership between EHOVE Career Center and Lorain County Community College, with core OTA courses taught at EHOVE’s Milan campus. Graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science degree from LCCC and can join the Student Occupational Therapy Association.
To learn more about the EHOVE/LCCC COTA program click here.
Tyler’s Role at Amherst Manor
Now in his third year at Amherst Manor, Tyler serves as the lead COTA. He treats a wide range of patients, from skilled rehabilitation to long-term care and outpatient therapy, addressing needs from neurological and orthopedic to cognitive and cardiovascular.
Gabriel Pou, PT, DPT, Director of Rehabilitation at Amherst Manor, praised Tyler’s leadership: “When we were facing an unusually high workload period for over six months, he essentially did the work of two therapists in a very busy building. He steps up whenever needed.”
One of Tyler’s standout contributions is leading Amherst Manor’s Dementia Live exercise classes. “After one session, the patients and caregivers gave him a standing ovation,” Pou shared.
Despite balancing a full workload, graduate studies, and personal life, Tyler shows up each day with a positive attitude. “He treats every resident as if they were his own family,” Pou said.
Looking Ahead
Tyler is currently pursuing his Master’s in Occupational Therapy at Muskingum University, where he looks forward to increased autonomy in developing patient care plans. “I’m excited to collaborate with patients on goals that are truly meaningful to them,” he said.
His advice for prospective OTA students is simple: “Keep an open mind. Helping people is great, but being open in how you approach that help will make you more effective.”
For Tyler, the role of a COTA is far more than what meets the eye. “We are primary advocates for our clients and vital collaborators with OTs to ensure the best outcomes,” he explained.
From STNA to respected therapy leader, Tyler’s journey embodies the mission of both Sprenger Health Care Systems and the EHOVE/LCCC OTA Program—to empower professionals who make a lasting difference in the lives of those they serve.
200 Years of Service: How Sprenger Health Care’s Therapy Team Exceeds Two CenturiesIn November, Tyler Sponaugle, a Physical Therapist from Sprenger Health Care Rose Lane hosted two company-wide, free CEU programs specializing in vestibular rehabilitation, in which dozens of Sprenger’s therapists attended. Tyler began his therapy career with Sprenger Health Care over 10 years ago, and has recently obtained a specialization in vestibular rehabilitation, in which he aims to continue assisting the community and other therapists gain knowledge on the topic through outreach and CEUs. These CEUs were held at Towne Center in Avon Lake, Ohio, and Heather Knoll Nursing and Rehabilitation in Tallmadge, Ohio, to provide accessibility to the therapists commuting from the other surrounding Sprenger facilities.
Many of the therapists in attendance had worked within Sprenger Health Care Systems for a decade or more, which had the group thinking – how many years of combined experience have they all had while employed with Sprenger?
The answer spans more than 200 years of therapy experience within the South Sprenger Health Care facilities alone, in total resulting in 363 years from all Sprenger Health Care Systems, and even more in overall clinical experience!
Many of the therapists in the photo above began their careers with Sprenger and overtime have grown throughout the company, building on learned, hands-on experience and one-on-one mentoring.
This is the case with Angie Maurer, OTR/L. In 2009 she was in her final year of graduate school at Cleveland State University, when she attended an Occupational Therapy conference and had the opportunity to chat with leadership from Sprenger Health Care Towne Center. Here, she learned that the only years-old, newly constructed nursing facility was in Avon Lake, Ohio, Angie’s hometown. She, along with a handful of her classmates, were given the opportunity to begin their career with Sprenger Health Care, all of which remain employed with the company!
Angie has been an Occupational Therapist with Sprenger Health Care since the very beginning of her career, working at Towne Center for nearly 15 years. Angie stated, “I love working here, at Towne Center. The people are amazing; We all work together, bouncing ideas off one another. Physical, occupational, and speech therapists work as one unit, making sure that our residents get the best care that we can provide. Everyone here is just amazing – the nurses, the environmental staff, everyone!”
For Mistie Hall, PTA, she has had a similar experience to Angie. Mistie went to Lorain County Community College and received a degree in Applied Science, continuing on to become a certified Physical Therapy Assistant, which is a career that she has worked in for nearly 20 years. She began her career in a neighboring hospital, and then transitioned into a travel position, which is how she happened across Sprenger Health Care. She began working for Sprenger Health Care Systems almost 17 years ago, at Autumn Aegis in Lorain, Ohio. For her first few years with Sprenger, she traveled around to other local Sprenger facilities, such as Anchor Lodge, Amherst Manor, and Elms Retirement Village, but 12 years ago, she decided to make a permanent home at Towne Center, where she has been ever since.
In December 2023, Mistie took over an exercise class held twice a week in Towne Center’s Independent Living, assisting residents with physical activities to continually improve their health and independence. The class has exponentially grown since Mistie has taken over, and it is just one small piece of her time at Sprenger that she values dearly. Mistie’s end-career goal is to eventually retire with Sprenger.
Kristen Matus, PT, DPT, has been with Sprenger Health Care for exactly half of her career, nearing a decade. She graduated from Toledo University in the Fall of 2006 and began working as a Physical Therapist in January of 2007. In 2016, some of Kristen’s friends persuaded her to try out a new avenue with Sprenger, and so she did. Out of her 18-year long Physical Therapy career, Kristen has spent 9 of those years with Sprenger Health Care, and she doesn’t plan to leave anytime soon. In fact, Kristen hopes to continue her growth at Towne Center by promoting continued positive development with the outpatient therapy caseload. She stated that her goal is to “help the community by providing care.”
Flourishing Careers
Angie, Mistie, and Kristen are just a few of the many therapists who have chosen Sprenger Health Care as a place to flourish their career. Not only has their career grown over time, but the relationships they have garnered have given them family-like friendships in both co-workers and residents. Angie stated that the one part of her job that she enjoys the most is being able to go to work and enjoy her time spent with all of the residents, but especially the residents who reside in long-term care, who she has known and worked with for years.
Sprenger Health Care Systems is an ever growing 12-nursing home, 10-assisted living, and 8-independent living enterprise, employing more than 2,000 professionals, located in Ohio and South Carolina. If you are interested in joining Angie, Mistie, Kristen, and the dozens of other devoted therapy professionals, search our open positions here.