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Occupational therapy faculty at Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï are engaged in many professional initiatives and endeavors. Some highlights of their recent accomplishments and activities include:

Karin Barnes, Ph.D., OTR will be named a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) at the 2017 AOTA Annual Conference & Centennial Celebration. Additionally, Dr. Barnes is engaged in research involving pediatric mobility and development through the Go Baby Go project, as well as research on sensory processing in children. 

Kimatha Grice, OTD, OTR, CHT received the 2017 Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï Presidential Distinguished Service Award to the Institution. She received the award on March 6, 2017 at the annual presidential awards dinner in recognition for her service to the university and the community. Dr. Grice serves on the board of the Texas Society of Hand Therapists.

Bridgett Piernik-Yoder, Ph.D., OTR has presented at numerous conferences this academic year including the Texas Society of Allied Health Professions, the Texas Occupational Therapy Association’s Mountain Central Conference, and the International Society of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference. Dr. Piernik-Yoder serves as the Education/Research Professional Development Coordinator for the AOTA Education Special Interest Section (EDSIS).  In January 2017, Dr. Piernik-Yoder was named Interim Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy.

Autumn Clegg, MSOT, OTR received a community engagement grant from the Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï Institute for Integration of Medicine and Science to support the development and delivery of a multidisciplinary continuing education program in McAllen, Texas regarding the medical and rehabilitation needs of clients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Autumn is also engaged in research related to factors that support the willingness of occupational therapists to serve as fieldwork supervisors.

Ricky Joseph, Ph.D., OTR is currently serving on the Texas Interprofessional Education Task Force, an initiative to promote and support interprofessional education in the health professions. He has presented at numerous conferences this academic year including the Association for Schools of Allied Health Professions, the Texas Occupational Therapy Association’s Mountain Central Conference, and the UT Innovations in Health Science Annual Conference.

Ana Allegretti, Ph.D., OTR is the principal investigator for Go Baby Go, a study that examines the outcomes of providing children with disabilities modified ride-on cars to support their mobility. She and four students, who work on the project as research assistants, have presented this ongoing research at the Texas Occupational Therapy Association’s Mountain Central Conference and the International Seating Symposium. She will also be presenting her research at the 2017 AOTA Annual Conference & Centennial Celebration.