Dr. Struthers is formally trained as an anthropologist, behavioral scientist, and occupational therapist.

She was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in physical anthropology, summa cum laude, from The Colorado College in 1986, she completed her Master’s degree in Biological Anthropology under the direction of Dr. Wenda Trevathan (Human Birth: An Evolutionary Perspective. Hawthorne, NY: Aldine deGruyter), and her Ph.D. in the Behavioral Biology of Primates through a joint program (Animal Science, Biology, Anthropology) at the New Mexico State University in 1988, and 1992.

Dr. Struthers completed her Masters in occupational therapy at the University of Puget Sound in 1999. Dr. Struthers has extensive field experience in human health systems and cross-cultural practices, as well as in the behavioral biology of the great apes.

She completed eighteen months as an assistant to a traditional Partera, or midwife, and mentored under a traditional curandera in the Mexican-American Borderlands, she carried out extensive forensic analysis of archaeological skeletal materials in compliance with NAGPRA legislation, and facilitated the implementation of rights for Native American inmates at Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in accordance with AIRFA legislation.

Dr. Struthers was environmental enrichment coordinator for NMSU primate research institute, and later the director of behavioral sciences for the White Sands Research Center / Coulston International primate research center where she conducted research with great apes and other captive non-human primates in fetal development, endocrinology, maternal behavior, and deprivation/enrichment effects including “abnormal” and self-injurious behaviors. Dr. Struthers spent over a decade developing program guidelines to meet the requirements of AWA legislation for various biomedical research facilities and sanctuaries.

Since attaining National and State occupational therapy credentials in 2000, Dr. Struthers has treated and advocated for children with neurodevelopmental challenges. Dr. Struthers specializes in pediatric neurodevelopmental processes and sensory integration treatment techniques as developed by Dr. A. Jean Ayres. She has received personal training and mentorship from Debra Beckmann, MS, CCC-SLP, Pat Wilbarger, OTR/L, FAOTA, and Lawrene Kovalenko, OTR/L.

Dr. Struthers maintains a private practice that provides a clinical setting with specialized equipment and primarily serves families in Whatcom and adjacent counties of Northwest Washington. Her practice focuses on children under the age of 10 years. Therapy involves intense and continual one-on-one interaction with each child throughout their clinic time, as well as highly individualized, family-centered treatment planning. Treatment planning may include home adaptation, collaboration with and referral to other specialists, home visits, and identification of appropriate community resources to facilitate “just right challenges” for each child.