Dr. Apple Sepulveda
Co-Founder, Occupational Therapist, Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
Apple Sepulveda is a Filipino-American board-certified pediatric occupational therapist with over two decades of experience. She has specialized in infant feeding, swallowing, and development at a leading children’s hospital in Los Angeles. Her qualifications include the AOTA Specialty Certification in Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing (SCFES) and California’s Feeding and Swallowing Certification.
Academic Qualifications
- Doctorate in Occupational Therapy
University of Southern California - Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
San Jose State University - Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy
Velez College, Cebu, Philippines - Ph.D. Candidate in Translational Health Sciences
George Washington University
Clinical Expertise
- Pediatric feeding and swallowing in medically complex children
- Occupational therapy interventions for infant development and feeding
- Sensory processing
- Lactation and maternal-infant mental health
Leadership and Advocacy
Dr. Sepulveda has held leadership roles in non-profit organizations, such as 2020 Mom and BreastfeedLA. She has presented at conferences like the World Federation of Occupational Therapy and the American Occupational Therapy Association, and has guest lectured at universities including USC and the University of Illinois Chicago.
Research and Community Involvement
As a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program fellow (2016-2019), Dr. Sepulveda conducted research on mental health disparities among Filipino immigrants. Her research focuses on parental mental health, integrating maternal mental health into early intervention, and supporting NICU parents.
Vision for Nurture Collective
Co-founder of Nurture Collective, Dr. Sepulveda aims to integrate maternal and infant mental health into early intervention services. She is involved in implementing these approaches in Maine’s Part C Program, striving to address service disparities and enhance community support.
Read Dr. Sepulveda’s work here:
- Prevention of Behavioral Health Disparities in an Immigrant Community Through Community Partnerships: Creating a Culture of Mental Health – Read the full article.
- Why it makes more sense to care for kids and parents at the same time – Read the full article.
- If pediatricians screen moms for depression, why not occupational therapists? – Read the full article.
- The promotion of positive mental health for new mothers during Covid-19 – Find out more.
- Longitudinal impact of a poverty simulation on healthcare practitioners’ attitudes towards poverty – Find out more.
- Book Chapter: Creating a Culture of Mental Health in Filipino Immigrant Communities through Community Partnerships – Read it here.