Bachelani, Salma, OTD, OTR/L, PMH-C
Clinical Interests
Dr. Bachelani is interested in supporting perinatal and pediatric outcomes. She strives to improve participation and engagement amongst children, youth and families across home, school, and community settings. She is interested in maternal health and supporting expectant parents as they navigate pregnancy and new parenting roles.
Research Interests
Dr. Bachelani's research spans perinatal health and pediatric OT practice. Her pediatric-based work focuses on producing and implementing community-based programs, such as staff trainings on social emotional learning and pediatric developmental milestones. She is interested in enhancing service provision in underserved communities and fostering inclusive and accessible learning environments in school settings.
Dr. Bachelani is also part of the WashU OT Maternal Health Collective (MHC), which is a collaborative lab run by both faculty and clinicians within the program. The overarching goal of the collective is to work toward improved perinatal outcomes for parents with a focus on co-occupational engagement; mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual participation; health; and well-being. Her maternal health work aims to enhance well-being of women with high-risk pregnancies.
Teaching Roles
Dr. Bachelani is a course director for OT6115: Occupation and Society: Foundations, Ethics, and Social Impact, and OT6220: Impacts of Disease and Disability on Occupational Performance. She provides course support for Children, Youth and Families I and II as well as a capstone mentor for doctoral students.
Education
2016: Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD), Washington University School of Medicine, Program in Occupational Therapy
2013: BS in psychology, Missouri State University
Background
Dr. Bachelani earned her doctorate degree in occupational therapy from Washington University in St. Louis in 2016. As a student, she created a practice model on caregiver supports for diverse families, and conducted research examining the role of occupational therapy in serving children with food allergies. Dr. Bachelani’s doctoral capstone project involved working with a non-profit organization aiming to make faith-based communities more accommodating and accessible for people with disabilities.
Dr. Bachelani began her career as an occupational therapist in acute care and inpatient rehabilitation settings in 2017 at the University of Kansas Health System. From 2018-2021, she worked for St. Louis Public Schools, providing school-based therapy services. Her primary clinical focus was pediatrics, with special interests in children with developmental disabilities, learning challenges, and self-regulation concerns.
Dr. Bachelani transitioned into academia in 2021 by joining faculty at St. Louis Community College in the occupational therapy assistant program where she taught an Adaptive Activities course.
Selected Publications
Lazzaro, C., Selvaratnam, A., Lipsey, K., Bachelani, S. H., & Taff, S. (2026). The prevalence of epistemology in occupational therapy education literature: a historical mapping review, 1917-2024. Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional, 34, e4094. https://doi.org/10.1590/2526-8910.cto415940942
Martin, A., Mack, A., Broaddus, A., & Bachelani, S. (2025). Consulting with crisis nursery providers for staff capacity-building. OT Practice, 30(2), 14–17.
Cheatham Oberle, S., Bachelani, S. H., Hoyt, C. R., Harris, K., & Millsap, M. (2024). Calling in: Facilitating change by acknowledging human connection. OT Practice, 29(3), 20–23.
Bachelani, S.H., Gronski, M.P., & Carlson, K.A. (2023). Empowering children and families with food allergies: An innovative role for occupational therapy. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 11(2), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.2053
Taff, S. D., Bachelani, S., Russell-Thomas, D. C., Tucker, S., Walker, C., & West-Bruce, S. (2023). Development and pilot of an educator training course for early career faculty. Education in the Health Professions, 6(2), 101-106. https://doi.org/10.4103/EHP.EHP_13_23
Book Chapters and Others
Cohen Podvey, M., Bachelani, S., Hatfield, M., McLean, B., Swanton, H., Little, M., La Pointe, M., O’Connor, E., Peterson, J., Schwee, G., Bergmann, S., Miller, M. Killorin Hemminger, R. (2025). Navigating ‘normal’ motherhood struggles: Movement, compassion, and occupational balance. In H. Slootjes (Ed.), Enhancing women’s wellbeing during matrescence, motherhood, and perinatal transitions: An evidence-based guide for occupational therapists. Taylor & Francis.
Awards and Honors
2023: Educator of the Year – Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis Program in Occupational Therapy
2020: Mullanphy Elementary School – Staff Member of the Month, January 2020
2013: Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology - Inductee
2012: Theta Alpha Kappa National Honor Society for Religious Studies and Theology - Inductee
