Foster appointed director of PhD graduate studies

On May 1, Erin Foster, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, associate professor of occupational therapy, neurology and psychiatry, was appointed director of graduate studies for the Rehabilitation and Participation Science (RAPS) PhD program. Foster earned her doctoral degree in occupational therapy in 2005; completed postdoctoral training in clinical neuroscience, cognitive neuropsychology and clinical investigation in 2008; and earned a PhD in rehabilitation and participation science in 2018 from Washington University in St. Louis. Her research aims to understand everyday cognitive functioning and its relevance to occupational performance, participation and well-being among individuals with chronic neurological conditions. She focuses on the development of more effective and comprehensive rehabilitation programs for individuals with neurological disorders and cognitive dysfunction.

Foster will direct the admissions process, provide support and guidance to RAPS students and faculty, supervise the progression of students through the program, lead ongoing curriculum development, and pursue training grant funding. She will join the School of Medicine’s Graduate Program Council. Her experiences as a RAPS PhD graduate and federally funded rehabilitation scientist provide her with a unique perspective on student needs and ways to ensure that the RAPS PhD program remains a rigorous, innovative and leading program in the field.