PP-OTD Student Profiles

Doctoral Project Topic: TBD

Practice experience
Community based mental health and inpatient psychiatric rehabilitation

Current clinical and research interests
Serious mental illness and early episode psychosis; co-occurring disorders; OTs role with individuals experiencing homelessness

Education
2019 – MOT in Occupational Therapy, Saint Louis University
2018 – BS in Occupational Science, Saint Louis University

Background
While attending OT school at Saint Louis University, Serena was exposed to occupational therapy services in a justice based setting which sparked her interest in community based mental health. Serena has worked with individuals experiencing homelessness to increase access to sustainable housing, employment and health care services in the St. Louis region. She has also completed an AOTA fellowship in psychosocial rehabilitation at the Durham VA. Serena recently relocated to Omaha where she is currently providing occupational therapy services in an inpatient psychiatric rehabilitation center.

Reason for entering PP-OTD program
Serena seeks to grow her understanding of developing and implementing evidenced based practices in community based and inpatient mental health settings. In the future, she hopes to transition to a role in academia.

Doctoral Project Topic: My doctoral project will have a focus on fieldwork education.

Practice experience
Mostly school-based pediatrics, but also a variety of adult settings with some outpatient pediatrics

Current clinical and research interests
Fieldwork education; Pediatric OT and School-based OT

Education
2007 - MS in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine
2006 - BS in Occupational Therapy, McKendree College

Reason for entering PP-OTD program
Jenny grew up in a suburb of Chicago in which she always had an interest in the medical field. Jenny’s mom, a nurse, helped spark her interest in occupational therapy and she was able to observe her grandmother receive OT after a stroke. Jenny’s high school counselor helped her find the 3-2 program with McKendree College and Washington University. She has worked in a variety of settings and in five different states as an occupational therapist. Jenny’s passion in the clinical setting is in pediatric OT and school-based OT. She enjoys working with OT students in the fieldwork office as it is a way to bridge the gap between the academic setting and the clinic setting.
Jenny lives in Illinois with her husband and two children, and they enjoy doing a variety of activities as well as going to Rend Lake on their boat in the summertime.

Doctoral Project Topic: TBD

Practice experience
Neurological rehabilitation in acute, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient and community settings

Current clinical and research interests
Innovation in occupational therapy education; Fieldwork education; Stroke and brain injury rehabilitation; Chronic condition self-management; Caregiving as an occupation

Education
2006 – BS in Occupational Science, Saint Louis University 2007 – MS in Occupational Therapy, Saint Louis University

Background
Michelle grew up in Northwest Indiana and developed a passion to become an occupational therapist in high school after observing her grandma in a therapy session. Michelle has practiced in neurological rehabilitation across settings ranging from inpatient to community. Michelle also assists in the education of entry-level occupational therapy students at Washington University in St. Louis. Michelle now enjoys living in Saint Louis with her two children, and delights in travel, running, reading, writing and baking in her free time.

Reason for entering PP-OTD program
Michelle is excited to earn a post-professional OTD degree. Michelle loves practicing occupational therapy and wants to improve her understanding and translation of evidence that informs her work, and she wants to contribute to evidence that establishes the value of occupational therapy. Michelle wants to enhance clinical knowledge and experience to foster inspired and passionate occupational therapy learners. Michelle is eager to increase participation in academic instruction while also being a leader in clinical practice.

Doctoral Project Topic: Teaching pre-vocational skill for primary students in low-incidence population

Practice experience
School-based, acute, home-health, and inpatient-rehabilitation practice

Current clinical and research interests
Pre-vocational skills; Assistive technology; Dyslexia; Artificial Intelligence; Trauma-informed care

Education
2013-MA in Special Education, University of Kansas
1997-BS in Occupational Therapy, University of Kansas

Background
Suzanne is a Kansas native, who currently lives in the Kansas City area in Overland Park, Kan. After graduating from OT school in 1997, Suzanne spent the first half of her career working with adults, particularly enjoying the challenges working with clients recovering from stroke and traumatic brain injury. Suzanne was fascinated by the brain’s ability to repair and enjoyed the relational aspect of working with clients and caregivers. The latter half of Suzanne’s career has been devoted to working primarily with K-5 students. Suzanne has felt energized by her role helping students to better access their educational environment and setting her students up for success as they mature into adulthood. Outside of work, Suzanne enjoys spending time with her husband and blended family, including seven children and twp grandchildren.

Reason for entering PP-OTD program
Over the course of her career, Suzanne has endeavored to continuously learn and grow as a clinician to not only serve her clients but also to help equip therapists new to the profession. Earning her PP-OTD will allow Suzanne to continue a journey of lifelong learning, broadening her skills in evidence-based practice methods and positioning her to opportunities within academia.

Doctoral Project Topic: TBD

Practice experience
Community mental health, outpatient pediatrics, acute care and home health

Current clinical and research interests
Interprofessional collaboration; Community-centered wellness and health promotion, DEI within academia; Political advocacy; Empowering Black people through a holistic and occupation-based lens

Education
2020 – MS in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St. Louis
2015 – BS in Exercise Science, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Background
Mario is a native of the St. Louis Metro East area who learned about occupational therapy after finishing his undergraduate degree. While working as a rehabilitation aide, he was drawn to the profession after recognizing the importance and emotional impact of returning to day-to-day activities after a significant injury while working with patients.
In his spare time, Mario enjoys practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jiu, going to art museums, and is still trying to finish One Piece.

Reason for entering PP-OTD program
Mario desires to make a large-scale difference in transforming lives by utilizing my occupation-based lens to holistically help underserved communities in their quality of life – making OT indeed for everyone. He believes having a deeper understanding of program development and research is essential to seeking the answers to his many questions.

Doctoral Project Topic: Supporting health and well-being of mothers to children with special needs

Practice experience
Pediatric and adult inpatient rehabilitation, home care, and outpatient clinic based services; Continuing education program development; Individual education plan consultation

Current clinical and research interests
OT and disabilities advocacy, Maternal and caregiver health and well-being, Continuing education, Program development

Education
1997 – MS in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St. Louis
1996 – BA in Psychology, Maryville University, St. Louis

Background
Rebecca earned her master's degree occupational therapy degree from Washington University in 1997. She has worked with adult and pediatric populations in a variety of rehabilitation settings. Throughout her career, her primary focus has been on children, families, and caregiver education. She has a passion for teaching, mentoring, and program development. Her perspective for patient care and advocacy evolved after becoming a parent to a child with Down syndrome, and as she engaged in volunteer and leadership roles within the Down syndrome community. She currently provides private occupational therapy as well as educational and IEP consulting services to families and other professionals.
Rebecca lives in Orlando, Florida with her husband and three busy teenage children.

Reason for entering PP-OTD program
The intersection of personal and professional experience has led Rebecca to redefine her purpose and pursue work that focuses on promoting the meaningful doing, being, and belonging of both caregivers and occupational therapy practitioners. She seeks to learn best practices in education, leadership, and program development that will advance her skills and interests in teaching, advocacy, and promotion of health and well-being. She aspires to serve in academia and provide mentorship to future practitioners that will shape the occupational therapy profession.

Doctoral Project Topic: Improving clinical instructor and student experience during Level II Fieldwork

Practice experience
Inpatient acute care, MDA/ALS clinic, and student coordinator

Current clinical and research interests
Best practice in academia; Improving student outcomes; Student mental health; Maternal/postpartum mental health; Neonatal development

Education
2017 – MS in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine
2015 – BS in Psychology, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana

Background
Lisa started her career primarily interested in occupational therapy’s role in supporting neonatal development through parent interactions and supporting maternal mental health. She has a publication in the Early Human Development Journal investigating the impact of parent participation in the NICU on developmental outcomes. However, the vast majority of Lisa’s clinical experience has been at an academic medical center treating a wide variety of adult populations within the acute care setting. For the past several years she has served as a student coordinator where she oversees students’ Level II Fieldwork progress and promotes a successful student/clinical instructor experience. In her spare time, she enjoys exercising at group fitness classes, reading all genres (especially thrillers), and attending Broadway musicals.

Reason for entering PP-OTD program
Lisa's professional goal is to join the world of academia. She is seeking guidance to implement best practice in improving student outcomes and to have a greater impact on growing the occupational therapy profession forward.

Doctoral Project Topic: Occupational therapy in a community-based re-entry program

Practice experience
Inpatient acute, skilled nursing, community-based mental health, unhoused and justice-involved populations, nonprofit project management

Current clinical and research interests
Functional cognition; holistic wellness; health promotion; community re-entry; social and occupational justice; occupational therapy’s role in developing strategies towards reducing recidivism

Education
2020 – MA in Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California
2018 – BS in Health Science, Springfield College

Background
Morgan is originally from Connecticut and relocated to Southern California to attend OT school at the University of Southern California. Although Morgan started practicing in physical rehabilitation and acute care, the opportunity arose to work as an OT and program manager at a community-based non-profit with unhoused and justice-involved populations. This experience helped Morgan realize the need for OT services with these populations. When not working, Morgan enjoys hiking, rock climbing, reading, and dancing with a local community company.

Reason for entering PP-OTD program
Morgan is interested in learning about program development and implementation to enhance the role of occupational therapy services in community-based re-entry programs, with the aim of serving underrepresented and marginalized populations more effectively. Morgan also aspires to continue advocating for occupational therapy for these populations.