West-Bruce, Stacy, OTD, MSW, OTR/L

Clinical Interests

Aging in place, occupational justice, mental health, community-based practice, diversity, equity and inclusion, justice and anti-racism (DEIJA) in OT education and practice

Research Interests

Dr. West-Bruce is interested in research and interventions aimed at supporting healthy and supportive aging in place strategies for under-resourced older adults. She is also interested in the role and impact of DEIJA in occupational therapy education and practice.

Teaching Roles

Dr. West-Bruce is the course master for Occupation and Society, Occupational Therapy in Community and Population Health, and Management Skills for OT Professionals. In the PP-OTD Program, she is course director for the Teaching Practices Course.

Education

2018: Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, Saint Louis University
2004: MSW, Washington University
2000: BS in occupational therapy, Saint Louis University

Background

After earning her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy, Dr. West-Bruce moved to Chicago and worked at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in inpatient, adult mental health. During this time, her curiosity was peaked regarding what was occurring in the community that led previously stabilized patients to return to the community. This led her to pursue a master’s degree in social work from the Brown School with a concentration in socioeconomic development and issues affecting women. During graduate school, she began working with older adults and found one of her true passions. Dr. West-Bruce has worked with older adults as a staff therapist and director of rehabilitation in a variety of settings including skilled nursing, long-term care, assisted and independent living, home health, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly and via the Community Aging in Place—Advancing Better Living for Elders program. She is particularly interested in supporting older adults in aging safely and productively in the community.

Dr. West-Bruce has also done extensive work in justice and community-based settings including working for a homeless services agency and with justice involved individuals both during periods of incarceration and in transitioning back into the community. Prior to coming to Washington University, Dr. West-Bruce worked within the quality and safety department of a large health-care ministry aiming to optimize care delivery and outcomes and she started a consulting business aimed at obtaining occupational therapy student fieldwork experiences in community-based settings. She has held several adjunct professor positions at St. Louis Community College, Maryville University and Saint Louis University, where she taught Contexts of Occupations, Lived Experience of Disabilities and Chronic Conditions and facilitated Problem-Based Learning Labs. She currently serves on the board for Keyway Center for Diversion and reentry.

Selected Publications

Taff, S.D., Bachelani, S., Russell-Thomas, D.C., Tucker, S., Walker, C., & West-Bruce, S. (2023). Development of a pilot of an education training course for early career faculty. Education in Health Professions, 6(2), 101-106.

Jaegers, L. A., Skinner, E., Conners, B., Hayes, C., West-Bruce, S., Vaughn, M. G., ... & Barney, K. F. (2020). Evaluation of the jail-based occupational therapy transition and integration services program for community reentry. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(3), 7403205030p1-7403205030p11. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.035287

Book Chapters and Other

Taff, S.D., Moreno, C.E, Nuwere, E., West-Bruce, S., & Malfitano, A.P.S. (2024). Equity, diversity, and inclusion in occupational therapy: Small steps, slow pace, and unrealized potential. In F. Khosa (Ed.)., Equity, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare across the globe: From knowledge to practice. Elsevier.

West-Bruce, S. (2023). Foreword. In. J. C. O’Brien & B. Connors, Introduction to occupational therapy, 6th ed. (pp. 20-21). Elsevier.

Awards and Honors

2022: Educator of the Year, Program in Occupational Therapy