Marina Bien is a third year occupational therapy doctoral candidate at George Washington University’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She obtained her undergraduate degree from James Madison University with a major in Health Sciences and a minor in exceptional education. Through her occupational therapy and fieldwork  education, Marina developed a passion for supporting patients as they navigate medically and socially complex challenges.

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During the Covid-19 pandemic, Marina obtained experience creating virtual tools for vulnerable populations. She is a founding team member of Virtual Companions, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. The mission of Virtual Companions was to reduce societal loneliness through creation of an intergenerational community connected through music and the arts. The program targeted older adults, individuals with intellectual disabilities, veterans, and college students. 

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Prior to her doctorate education at George Washington University, she served three years as Youth Chair for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, organized fundraising initiatives, served as a motivational speaker, and created a national public service announcement to raise awareness for vision impacting diseases. 

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During her tenure at GWU, she served as the Community Service Chair for the Student Occupational Therapy Association, leading service events throughout the DC Metro Area.