Kate Rungee

Catherine (Kate) Rungee, OTD, OTR/L, earned her Doctorate degree in occupational therapy from Belmont University and completed her undergraduate degree in psychology from Middle Tennessee State University. She has been practicing as an occupational therapist since 2012.

Kate completed her doctoral residency with Pediatric Therapies, creating and implementing a dance workshop for children with special needs. It was a dream to incorporate her love for dance, children, and occupational therapy to provide an opportunity for children with different abilities to explore the arts in a safe and supportive environment. After school, Kate gained 8 years of experience in post acute geriatric rehabilitation which was very fulling; however, she always felt the gentle pull back to pediatrics. She switched gears in January 2020 and decided to take the adventure of a lifetime of moving to Hawaii and pursuing a career in pediatrics. It was the best decision she ever made, filled with personal and professional growth. Upon returning home to family and friends in September 2022,  Kate knew she wanted to work for Pediatric Therapies of Cool Springs after the wonderful dance residency project collaboration 10 years prior. Kate is thrilled to be back with Pediatric Therapies and working with this fabulous team to help all children live their lives to the fullest.  Kate has experience working with individuals who have autism, down syndrome, congenital disorders, genetic disorders, sensory processing disorder, fine and visual motor delays, and developmental delays. Kate is formally trained in ILS (Integrated Listening Systems), SSP (Safe & Sound Protocol), and the SOS Approach to Feeding. Kate also acquired extensive knowledge in sensory integration during her time in Hawaii and enjoys educating children and parents on how sensory processing impacts function.