OT Students attend the 2011 AOTA/NBCOT Student conclave in Providence, RI November 11-12, 2011
Sacred Heart University's Graduate Program in Occupational Therapy had 34 MSOT students attend the Student Conclave, making SHU's program the second highest program for number of attendees. There was a total of 516 students in attendance, with 33 states represented. The Connecticut programs came in second for highest number of attendees behind Massachusetts. Sacred Heart's Graduate in Occupational Therapy Students are pictured above at the opening ceremony wearing their red "PRIDE" Occupational Therapy shirts
OT Students attend Bi-Annual Scientific Conference of Association of Caribbean Occupational Therapists
Pictured below (left to right): Ayana Romain, Yvonne Dobbelmann,Professor Margo Gross, Hillary Bethel, called the "Mother of Barbados Occupational Therapy", and Nathalie Henriquez
In November, 2011 three Occupational Therapy Masters students, Ayana Romain, Nathalie Henriquez and Yvonne Dobbelmann went to Barbados to attend the 2-day 10th Bi-Annual Scientific Conference of the Association of Caribbean Occupational Therapists. The theme was "The Many Faces of Occupational Therapy." It was a small and intimate gathering of international experts from the Barbados, US, Canada, Trinidad, Dominica, and Tobago, exemplifying the truly "many faces" of OT. The speakers shared their research and experience of occupational therapy in diverse areas such as Disaster Recovery and Restoration, the MAM (Manual Ability Measure) Pilot Study, Creating & Sustaining a Culture of Service, Using Body-Focused Psychotherapy, Falls Prevention Programs and the "5 Minute Teacher". Having the opportunity to learn about and understand the role of Occupational Therapy in the Caribbean and other parts of the world was an exhilarating experience for the students. The group of participants and the setting were welcoming and personable and they have made tentative plans to meet again for the next conference two years from now! Join them!
Occupational Therapy students participate in Interdisciplinary Service Learning Trip to Antigua, Guatemala
Pictured: (left to right) Jaimee Betts, Ashley Kost, Jeremy Cabanel, Stacey McIvor, Yerkis Sanchez-Fleming, Patrycja Pedzinska
October 8-15, 2011, six Graduate students in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program and two OT faculty members joined with the College of Health Professions Nursing and Physical Therapy students and faculty on an interdisciplinary medical mission to Guatemala. The students worked in malnutrition clinics, a cerebral palsy clinic, hospital, and a wheelchair clinic. In addition, the students participated in a homeless outreach program. Students also provided education to a volunteer staff about proper hygiene and safe handling techniques in the malnutrition clinics. The OT students also assessed and treated feeding difficulties in the children at those clinics. At the wheelchair clinic, the students fit and modified wheelchairs for children that have never been fortunate enough to receive a wheelchair.
The students also used this opportunity in Guatemala for research for their final Capstone project for their MSOT degree. The faculty and students researched the impact of a service learning experience on the student’s professional behaviors, cultural competence, and interdisciplinary team skills.
This is the first time the OT students have participated in this trip. The hope is that OT students will participate in future trips to Guatemala where the need is so great.
Guatemala Student Presentation
Sacred Heart University Occupational Therapy Students participate in Capitol Hill Day, Washington, DC
Left to Right: Nicole Yarsawich, Wendy Cohn, Meghan Fera attend Capitol Hill Day. Link to story below
www.aota.org/News/AdvocacyNews/Hill-Day2.aspx
36th annual United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association’s (USPRS) training conference
On June 16, 2011, a group of students from SHU’s Master’s of Occupational Therapy department attended the 36th annual United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association’s (USPRS) training conference in Boston, MA. Specifically, the first ever, AOTA accredited, occupational therapy symposium on various mental health topics.
The symposium focused on bringing together psychiatric and occupational therapy practitioners, educators, researchers and students who are vested in promoting the expansion of occupational therapy services in the psychiatric rehabilitation setting.
Of note was the renewed focus for work based on the recovery model. This model consists of ten basic components of recovery:
1) hope
2) individualized and person - centered
3) holistic
4) strengths - based,
5) respect |
6) self direction
7) empowerment
8) non-Linear
9) peer support
10) responsibility |
Audience interest and enthusiasm were palpable as the presenters provided examples of successful transdisciplinary collaboration. Some topics that were touched upon include Occupational Therapy and Psychiatric Rehabilitation in a Transdisciplinary Universe, the Role of OT in Addressing Childhood Trauma, Arts and Healing: New Paths to Recovery and Wellness, Integration of Recovery Services in a Rehabilitation Department as well as How OT Can Promote “A Life in the Community”. Authors: Kimberly Crowley and Stacey McIvor
Student’s that Attended: Kimberly Crowley, Yvonne Dobblemann, Ashley Kost, Amy Kuzenka, Stacey McIvor, Kerry Nolan, Cole Yarsawich.
Students participated in a drumming session after the“Arts andHealing” workshop, presented by Victoria Buckley MS, OTR/L, CDVCII. The drumming classes that Victoria holds gives her clients with cognitive impairments an outlet and enables her clients to have another identity other than being seen as a person with a disability, instead her clients are musicians.
Students left to right in photo: Kerry Nolan, Amy Kuzenka, Stacey McIvor, Ashley Kost, and Kimberly Crowley
Occupational Therapy Association Conference: Awards & Recognition Ceremony
Professor Kuhaneck was presented with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Roster of Fellows award at the Annual AOTA Awards and Recognitions Ceremony in Orlando, FL on May 1, 2010. The Roster of Fellows recognizes occupational therapist members of AOTA, who with their knowledge and expertise, have made a significant contribution to the continuing education and professional development of members of the Association. In recognition of Professor Kuhaneck’s contributions, the following statement appeared on her award: Sharing evidence as author, collaborator, and educator.
OT Students have a Magical Experience:
Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL has a “give a day, get a day” offering volunteers a free one-day admission to any Disney World Park to persons who volunteer for one day at an approved charity organization. Twelve Sacred Heart University’s Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) members who were attending the annual American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Conference in Orlando volunteered one day at a local New Haven food pantry serving meals to the homeless. The occupational therapy student volunteers wore their Sacred Heart University Occupational Therapy sweatshirts, which were specifically designed for the experience to promote occupational therapy. The volunteers were moved by their experience and are looking forward to returning and volunteering their time again.
While enjoying the Magic Kingdom, a Disney employee recognized the SOTA group, acknowledged their participation in the “Give a day, get a day” promotion by inviting them to serve as the Grand Marshalls of that day’s Disney Parade. The students proudly wore their Sacred Heart University Occupational Therapy shirts which gained recognition for Sacred Heart University and occupational therapy. As the students rode down the parade route in the lead float waving and smiling to the crowd, they commented on how touched they were by the many onlookers who knew about occupational therapy and how occupational therapists had touched their lives. Several parents pointed to their children and gave the SOTA group a thumbs up in acknowledgement of how occupational therapy helped their child. SOTA students felt this was immensely rewarding and experienced their own Disney magical moment.
2011
Sacred Heart University student Amy Dion advocates for a national OT graduation hood color for use at commencement ceremonies. Click here:OT Practice Amy Dion
2010
Student research completed in2007 was recently accepted for publication in the journal Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics (scroll down to 2007 to see the students presenting their work at the national OT association conference).
Dr. Margo Gross will be presenting with colleagues at the state OT association conference in March on Breast Cancer Survivorship: Community Alternatives with a Multi-disciplinary Approach. She also coauthored a chapter with Heather Miller Kuhaneck entitled ‘Alternative and complimentary interventions for the autism spectrum disorders’ that will be published this spring.
Heather Miller Kuhaneck and Elissa Miller published a new occupational therapy textbook, Activity Analysis, Creativity and Playfulness in Pediatric Occupational Therapy: Making Play Just Right.
Elissa Miller will be presenting in Atlanta, Georgia at a conference on play. Her presentation will be about her research on children’s play preferences.
Heather Miller Kuhaneck will publish the 3rd edition of the occupational therapy textbook, Autism: A Comprehensive Occupational Therapy Approach, a preschool age version of the assessment tool the Sensory Processing Measure, and a paper in the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Sensory Integration Special Interest Section Quarterly. She also will be accepting the FAOTA award this year at the annual AOTA conference in Orlando.
2009
Lenore Frost completed her PhD from Walden University, successfully defending her dissertation on safe patient handling Patient Handling Methods in Occupational Therapy Curriculum.
Lenore Frost presented at the April 2009-American Occupational Therapy Association
Annual Conference, Houston, TX, Private Practice Special Interest Section Panel, “The Nuts and Bolts to Starting a Private Practice”. In addition, she participated in SIS Structured Round Table Discussion, Safe Patient Handling and Movement at this conference. In March 2009-9th Annual Safe Patient Handling and Movement Conference, Orlando, FL, she presented “Safe Patient Handling and Movement Curriculum Update”
Mary Ellen Johnson was a Co-presenter at the Connecticut Occupational Therapy Conference. The topic was responding to the Challenge Internationally—The Need for OT in Guatemala
Elissa Miller took over the position of Vice President for the state OT association in the fall.
In the spring at the annual AOTA conference, Elissa Miller and Heather Miller Kuhaneck presented: A Survey of Children’s Play Preferences: A Quantitative Examination of The Dynamic Model for Play Choice
Heather Miller Kuhaneck received the award of Merit from the Connecticut Occupational Therapy Association at the annual conference in March. She co-authored two articles for the Journal of Occupational Therapy in Schools and Early Intervention about the Sensory Processing Measure.
2008
AOTA conference 2008 was a big success for the department. Many of our students traveled to CA to attend and cheer on faculty at their presentations. Faculty Lenore Frost completed two presentations. Elissa Miller and Heather Miller-Kuhaneck co-presented, and Heather was a contributing author with two other co-authors on another workshop. Heather also received an AOTA Recognition of Achievement award.
Elissa Miller and Heather Miller Kuhaneck have an article being published in AJOT this summer on their qualitative research about why children play what they choose to play.
Mary Ellen Johnson and SHU OT alum Becky Irving published a paper in the Sensory Integration Special Interest Section Quarterly about SI issues in college students.
SHU hosted the 2008 ConnOTA annual conference and we had over 180 occupational therapists and students in attendance at our campus.
2007
The faculty and students of Sacred Heart University's occupational therapy department have had a successful and exciting year.
Jody Bortone completed her doctorate in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education. The title of her dissertation research was Critical Thinking and Evidence-Based Practice in Problem-Based Learning Tutorial Groups: A Critical Case Study. Dr. Bortone’s dissertation research was accepted for presentation to the Problem-Based Learning Special Interest Section of the American Educational Research Association at its annual conference in April, 2007, and the annual conference of the Canadian Occupational Therapy Association in July 2007. She presented at the Sacred Heart University College of Education and Health Profession's conference in celebration of our 10th anniversary on Evidence-Based Practice as well. She has recently co-authored a paper on concept mapping with 2 other Sacred Heart OT faculty for the AOTA Developmental Disabilities Special Interest Section Quarterly.
Mary Ellen Johnson presented at the Sacred Heart University College of Education and Health Profession's conference in celebration of our 10th anniversary on ADA Compliance and Technology.
Lenore Frost spoke on private practice issues at the national occupational therapy conference in April in St. Louis. She has recently co-authored a paper on concept mapping with 2 other Sacred Heart OT faculty for the AOTA Developmental Disabilities Special Interest Section Quarterly.
Heather Miller Kuhaneck, with co-authors, published the Sensory Processing Measure through Western Psychological Services. She presented at the state occupational therapy conference about this tool and the author group presented at the national occupational therapy conference as well. A journal article on children's play preferences in collaboration with Jane Case-Smith has been accepted for publication in OTJR: Occupation, Participation & Health for fall 2007. She has recently co-authored a paper on concept mapping with 2 other Sacred Heart OT faculty for the AOTA Developmental Disabilities Special Interest Section Quarterly and she recently joined the editorial board for Occupational Therapy in Early Intervention, Preschool & School: Journal of Practice, Theory & Research. Lastly, Heather recently was accepted to the University of Connecticut's doctoral program in public health.
Margo Gross kicked off' the first Mental Health SIS event for ConnOTA with a lecture on "Complementary and Alternative Methods of Healing to Integrate with OT Practice" at the Institute of Living in Hartford, in May 2007.
Elissa Miller, one of our adjunct faculty presented a paper at the national occupational therapy conference in St. Louis on the meaning of play and the rationale for play preferences in children. Elissa also recently presented on play at the state occupational therapy conference and she will also be speaking at the Sacred Heart University College of Education and Health Profession's conference in celebration of our 10th anniversary on Assistive Technology for Play. A journal article submission on the model of dynamic play choices created in collaboration with Heather Miller Kuhaneck was recently accepted for publication in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy.
A Sacred Heart University Occupational Therapy Program first- one of our student research groups was accepted to present a poster presentation at the national occupational therapy conference this April in St. Louis. Congratulations students!!!!!! This same poster was also accepted at the NATTAP conference this September in Columbus Ohio.