Lola Halperin, Ed.D., OTR/L
Office Location
Dr. Lola Halperin, Ed.D., OTR/L, specializes in psychosocial occupational therapy and 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 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 also serves as a manuscript and grant reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals and professional organizations. She is a mental health liaison for the Connecticut Occupational Therapy Association and a member of the American Veterans Archaeological Recovery Technical Advisory Committee. She is fluent in English, Hebrew, Russian, and Lithuanian.
Degrees & Certifications
- 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)
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)
- OT 525, Personal Transformation
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 Trauma
- Play- and Playfulness-Based Training Programs for Caregivers of Children Exposed to Adversity
- Occupational Therapy Interventions for Military Veterans with TBI and PTSD
- 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.