Jennifer (Jen) Papoccia, OT

Jennifer Papoccia, OT, is a UW Health Kids pediatric occupational therapist. She evaluates and treats premature infants and critically ill newborns. Jennifer cares for babies with a variety of conditions and needs. She helps children from birth up to three years of age.  

Her expertise includes caring for babies in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). She’s certified to treat extremely low birthweight (ELBW) newborns. As part of the NICU follow-up clinical assessment team, she sees babies after they leave the NICU.  

Jennifer evaluates physical and neurodevelopmental challenges, which affect brain development and function. She helps babies who fail to thrive or have other developmental delays. Jennifer offers special care for brachial plexus injuries. These affect nerves running from the spine to the arms and shoulders.  

Jennifer provides touch and massage therapy for these and other conditions. 

With a heart for struggling babies, Jennifer helps children meet developmental milestones. She teaches parents ways to support their child’s success. These can range from hands-on therapies to changes in home surroundings.

I saw how occupational therapy helped my young relative with Down syndrome. I felt connected to a career focused on improving someone’s quality of life.