Lola Halperin, Ed.D., OTR/L
Associate Professor
Office Location
Occupational Therapy
Ctr for Healthcare Education N116
Lola Halperin's, Ed.D., OTR/L specialty is psychosocial occupational therapy and she designs, teaches, and coordinates her program's mental health curriculum. Dr. Halperin has served clients of all ages affected by mental health conditions and other forms of adversity in inpatient, outpatient, and community-based facilities in the United States, Canada, and Israel. She has mentored numerous students' service-learning and capstone projects, as well as clinical fieldwork experiences, in her area of expertise.
Dr. Halperin's research interests include occupational therapy for individuals with mental health conditions and/or a history of trauma, as well as curriculum design for graduate occupational therapy education. She has published peer-reviewed articles and presented at professional conferences on these topics.
Dr. Halperin is fluent in English, Hebrew, Russian, and Lithuanian.
Degrees & Certifications
Education
- Doctor of Education, Programs in Occupational Therapy/Department of Bio-Behavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY (2018)
- Master of Arts, Post-Professional Program in Occupational Therapy, New York University, NY (2007)
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, Department of Occupational Therapy, Tel-Aviv University, Israel (1995)
Licensure/Certification
- Licensed Occupational Therapist (license #003140), State of CT, 2005 – presently
- Licensed Occupational Therapist (license #01319401), NY State, 2004 - presently
- Certified by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (certification #1070655), 2004 - presently
Additional Certificates
- Social and Behavioral Research - Refresher, CITI, May 2026 - May 2029
- Basic Life Support (CPR and AED), American Heart Association, August 2025-August 2027
- Responsible Conduct of Research, CITI, July 2025-July 2028
- Biomedical Research Investigators, Basic Refresher Course: Human Subjects Research, CITI, June 2024-July 2027
- Conflicts of Interest, CITI, June 2025-June 2029
- Internal Review Board (IRB) Member Basic Refresher Course, CITI, April 2024 - April 2027
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy Certification Training, Psychotherapy Networker/PESI, June 2022 - presently
- Lifestyle Redesign for Chronic Pain and Headache Management, USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, May 2016 – presently
- Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS), Innovative OT Solutions, November 2011 - presently
Teaching Responsibilities
- OT 524, Transformation Through Human Occupation-B (Human Conditions Across Life Span)
- OT 526, Transformation Through Human Occupation: Theory in Mental Health (Topics in Mental Health)
- OT 527, Transformation Through Human Occupation: Team Collaboration in Mental Health (Problem-Based Learning [PBL] in Mental Health)
- OT 528, Transformation Through Human Occupation: Application in Mental Health (Clinical Lab in Mental Health)
Awards & Fellowships
- 2024 Sacred Heart University College of Health Professions Teaching Excellence Award
- 2024 Connecticut Occupational Therapy Association Award of Merit
- 2020 Sacred Heart University Faculty Service-Learning Award
- 2002 Chaim Sheba Medical Center (Israel) Outstanding Worker Prize
Research Interests & Grants
Research Interests
- Sensory Processing of and Sensory Modalities Utilization with Children and Adults Affected by Mental Illness and/or Trauma
- Play- and Playfulness-Based Training Programs for Caregivers of Children Exposed to Adversity
- Occupational Therapy Interventions for Military Veterans Engaged in Therapeutic Archaeology
- Wellness and Occupational Engagement Needs of Law Enforcement Members
- The Impact of Jewish Intergenerational Trauma on Daily Occupations
- Pedagogies for Graduate Occupational Therapy Education
Grants
- Co-PI (Waldman-Levi: PI), $2,500. Supporting Families and Children’s Growth and Wellbeing. Katz School Faculty Research Award (Yeshiva University), August 3, 2023 – Present.
- Co-PI (Waldman- Levi: PI), $7,500. The Feasibility of Promoting Health Through Play Opportunities Program in Improving Parent and Child Outcomes for Underserved Families. Yeshiva University Provost’s Office Grant for Faculty Research, June 3, 2022 - Present. Provost’s Office Awards Grants for Faculty Research - Yeshiva University News (yu.edu)
- PI, $12,500. Promoting Play Opportunities in the Classroom. Naclerio Faculty Scholars Program, Sacred Heart University, February 11, 2021 – December 2022 (grant #21143).
- PI, $980. Treatment of Major Neurocognitive Disorder: An Interprofessional Team-Based Learning Event for OT and PA Students. College of Health Professions and College of Nursing Inter-Professional Education (IPE) Award, Sacred Heart University, 2019.