Cole Burns, OTR/L
Industrial Rehabilitation
Clinic: Bloomington
Education: 2013 BA in Psychology from Northeastern Illinois University; 2018 Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from University of New Mexico
Joined Saunders: 2019
Cole received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Northeastern Illinois University in 2015. He then attained a Master of Occupational Therapy degree at the University of New Mexico in 2018.
Before working at Saunders, Cole had work experience in kitchens and restaurants, construction, writing tutoring, dispatching, customer service, and more. He has lived in multiple cities and has played music across the country as a touring musician. Cole’s life experiences bring a deep level of knowledge and empathy to his industrial rehabilitation and functional capacity evaluation clients.
Outside of work Cole loves to spend time with his family, create and listen to music and podcasts, ski, snowboard, and play various competitive games and sports.
Q&A with Cole
Why did you become an occupational therapist?
I became interested in healthcare because of the job security. I became interested in occupational therapy specifically because of its broad scope of practice and emphasis on using creative and sometimes artistic approaches to provide care across the age spectrum.
What can patients expect when they see you in the clinic?
My patients can expect respect, empathy, and an active and collaborative approach to assist them in their rehabilitation process.
When you’re not working, what do you like to do for fun?
Hang with the wife and kids, go camping, play music, play disc golf, watch really funny, scary, and sad movies, read all kinds of books.
What are your favorite ways of staying healthy?
Swimming, being outside, eating delicious (and most of the time nutritious) food, lifting weights.
Where is your hometown?
Taos, New Mexico
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A Dave Grohl level rockstar. Here’s hoping it still happens!
What is your favorite thing about living in Minnesota?
My two best friends from 6th grade both live here with their wonderful wives and children; The Boundary Waters Canoe Area; the long winter.