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In The News

Here is a collection of news articles, videos, & blog posts related to occupational therapy.

University Awarded $1.25 Million from U.S. Department of Education to Fund Occupational Therapy Doctorate Education

The University is one of 13 programs nationwide to receive federal funding to help increase the number and diversity of occupational therapists serving school-aged children with disabilities and high-intensity needs.  Read More >


We’re thrilled to announce our feature in , focusing on the vital role occupational therapists play in mental health. This special edition features insights from 国产哟哟’s Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program Director Julie Watson, PhD, OTR/L, and highlights Assistant Professor Rae Ann Smith, OTD, OTR/L, who presented a student’s mental health capstone project at AOTA INSPIRE 2024. Our full-page ad in this issue coincides with the in Oak Brook, IL, on October 25-26, 2024, ensuring extended reach and visibility to a national audience and conference attendees. This opportunity showcases our commitment to advancing mental health support through occupational therapy.


国产哟哟 is proud to highlight our faculty and alumni as they present and participate in upcoming national and state occupational therapy conferences:

National Conferences:

  • At the  (NC, Nov 8-9, 2024
  • OTD Program Director Julie L. Watson, PhD, OTR/L, will present a poster on the Evaluation of a Capstone Orientation to Prepare PPOTD Students for Independent Research
  • Alumni Dr. Amanda Rodriguez and Dr. Latasha Dionne are presenting Adulting Academy: Inception & Implementation of a Community-Based Adolescent Level I Fieldwork
  • At the  (WA,  Dec 13-14, 2024), alumna Dr. Nicole Newell will present on School-Based Trauma-Informed Care for Children with Autism
  • At the  (PA, April 3–5, 2025), three alumni have been accepted
    • Dr. Elizabeth Dixon: Academic Dishonesty in Occupational Therapy Education: A Quantitative Survey
    • Dr. Nicole Newell: School-Based Trauma-Informed Care for Children with Autism
    • Dr. Rachael Mathieson: Using Response to Intervention to Improve Kindergarten Students' Fine and Visual-Motor Skills

State Conferences:

  • (CT, Nov 2, 2024): Director of Graduate Admissions Anastasia Spremulli will host a vendor table
  • (MD, Nov 2, 2024): OTD Assistant Professor Rae Ann Smith, M.Ed., OTD, OTR/L, will present a poster on the Evaluation of a Capstone Orientation to Prepare PPOTD Students for Independent Research and participate in a panel discussion on Enhancing and Advocating for OT Services for School-Based Mental Health
  • (NY, Nov 15–17, 2024): Interim Program Director of MOT, Dr. Tracy L. Bentley-Root, will attend and share 国产哟哟 OT materials

We are excited to support our faculty and alumni as they contribute to advancing the field of occupational therapy at these prestigious events.


Join us for the Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Projects Lecture Series, featuring innovative research by our doctoral students! This series showcases the important work being done in the field of occupational therapy and addresses various contemporary issues.

Presentations will include:

  • Tina Conley: Decreasing Barriers to Care for Mental Health Clients: A Continuing Education Course
  • Lori Glancey: Parents' Perspectives on the Effects of Screen Use on Preschool-Age Children with Autism: A Phenomenological Study
  • Autumn-Raine Martinez: Utilizing Online Education to Address Mental Health in Police Officers: A Pilot Program
  • Caitlin Ocasio: Caregivers Lived Experience with ABA Clinic-Based Related Service Providers: A Phenomenological Study

Capstone Lecture Presentations will occur from November 11 to November 18, 2024.

To receive Zoom links for the presentations, please complete .

We look forward to celebrating the achievements of our students and engaging in meaningful discussions about their research!


In this Hot Topics in Healthcare series hosted by 国产哟哟's post-professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program, Hayley Chrastowski, OTD, OTR/L, CEIM, and Jessica Peterson, OTD, OTR, CLC, PMH-C, co-founders of Maternal Health OT explore the emerging practice area of occupational therapy in maternal health and the practitioner's role during the perinatal period and motherhood.  This presentation reviews occupations and common needs for support from preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond.


In this Hot Topics in Healthcare series hosted by 国产哟哟's post-professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program, Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez (she/they), author and owner of Living Sensory Occupational Therapy LLC, explores sex as an occupation; motor, sensory, and regulation considerations for intimacy and connection; sexual orientation and the gender spectrum; and reproductive justice.