David Merlo, MS, COTA/L CPRP, ROH

 David Merlo worked in academia for over 27 years. In 2022 he returned to community practice, serving as Managing Director of Restoration Society, Inc. (www.RSIWNY.org), a community organization serving people with serious mental health conditions in Buffalo, NY. He served on the board of directors of the American Occupational Therapy Association and has held volunteer leadership roles within New York State Occupational Therapy Association, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, and Consortium of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Educators. David’s passion for Haiti grew out of a chance encounter, and now friendship, with an occupational therapy colleague who grew up in Haiti. After several trips there to participate in medical outreach missions, as well as to help build a rehabilitation clinic with his friend’s nonprofit organization, David is committed to fostering mutually beneficial relationships among students, educators, and practitioners of the two countries.