Nicole Meert, OT
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Medical Honoree

Nicole Meert may have OT after her name, but as someone who’s dealt with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) for 22 years, OT has been her life for most of her life.

Nicole is a triplet and her other two-thirds, as she affectionately calls them, do not have arthritis. Nicole’s story started with a hot swollen knee she claimed to have hit on a couch. The swelling and stiffness did not go away and so after a bunch of tests, she was diagnosed with JIA. Since she was so young, she has no memory of what life was like before JIA, however, having this chronic illness has changed her life in many ways, including her career choice.

“I am Pediatric Occupational Therapist, not only because I enjoy helping people to accomplish the things they want to do and the things they need to do, but because I had to navigate the world having an invisible illness almost alone,” says Nicole.

After going through school and life with JIA, Nicole knew she wanted to help others like herself navigate the world and conquer JA! From picking out clothing or school activities to looking at colleges to attend and which house to buy, all of those decisions required principles occupational therapists teach and rely on.

“I am glad I get the opportunity to experience this condition from the patient and provider side so I can better serve those with arthritis!” says Nicole.

Nicole is just one of the 1.4 million Hoosiers and over 50 million Americans living with arthritis. Please support the Arthritis Foundation by joining or donating to Nicole’s team, Dr. Nicole's Team.