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Occupational Therapy Newsletter

Spring 2022

Greetings from the Jefferson Occupational Therapy Department!

As we navigate through the academic year, the characteristic of resiliency rises to my consciousness almost every day.  As defined by Merriam-Webster, resiliency reflects “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to adversity or change”. 

The members of the Department of Occupational Therapy, our students, faculty and staff, are an amazing group of individuals, all contributing to where we are today -- doing our best to provide a quality education and experience for our students and supporting department members in their work activities. I am thankful to work with such committed individuals and am optimistic about where we are headed. 

One of our members, Dr. Amanda Lyons, exemplifies the characteristic of resiliency and beyond. On the evening of May 19, 2021, Dr. Lyons was talking with friends after playing a game of kickball when she was the random victim of a stray bullet that shattered her lower spine. Over the next four months she underwent many, many surgeries and procedures; Dr. Lyons moved from ICU to a med-surg unit at Temple University Hospital and to rehab at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital. 

Dr. Lyons’s husband, family and friends supported a move to an accessible apartment complex not far from our Center City Campus, where she and her husband now live.  Through her resilient nature, determination, commitment and very positive attitude, Dr. Lyons returned to her position as Academic Fieldwork Coordinator this fall, in September 2021!  It was such a pleasure for me to welcome her back to work.  With her permission, I share her story:

Brave New World [Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/21/2021)

As we move toward post-pandemic routines and ways of life, I am happy to share with you, by way of this newsletter, the innovative work and accomplishments of our students, alumni and faculty, with a special section highlighting some of our current students.  

Stay well,

Catherine Verrier Piersol, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Professor and Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy

FEATURE STORY

Occupational Therapy & The Interprofessional Student Hotspotting Program at Jefferson

Dr. Tracey Vause Earland and team develop a new complex care education model

Although patients with multiple diagnoses who experience detrimental social determinants of health (SDoH) make up only 5 percent of the U.S. population, they account for 50 percent of national healthcare costs. These patients, with complex medical and social needs, require emergency room and hospital visits more often than others and are more likely to return. This significant shortcoming in the U.S. healthcare system can be attributed to a lack of knowledge of how to address the SDoH that significantly affect these patients.

In response to this need, Dr. Tracey Vause Earland, in collaboration with Dr. Brooke Salzman, director of the Jefferson Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (JCIPE), have been developing and implementing a new complex care education model. This model is intended to train the next generation of healthcare practitioners in an interprofessional, empathic, client-centered approach to the primary care setting. Dr. Vause Earland draws upon the unique perspective of occupational therapy in the interprofessional approach, encouraging a holistic view of the client and the use of occupation to improve performance and well-being.

Due to their efforts, Dr. Vause Earland and her team were recently awarded a three-year $350,022 grant from the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation to support the new Complex Care Curriculum (3Cs), which includes the Student Hotspotting and Health Mentors programs. 3Cs is designed to teach students across care disciplines to identify the unmet needs of patients with complex conditions and environmental barriers and to use effective clinical care models to address these needs within our complex healthcare system.

Students enrolled in the program attend skills workshops, case conference calls, and on-line seminars emphasizing SDoH, patient-centered, interprofessional approaches and patient/team experiences. 3Cs students also gain invaluable experience working with peers in other healthcare fields during frequent patient interactions, including home visits, accompaniment on healthcare visits, navigation of community resources and virtual communications.

A recent study from the JCIPE team, published in the Journal of Interprofessional Care, emphasized the importance of these patient interactions. The study found that students participating in hotspotting had greater confidence and empathy working with patients with complex conditions than their peers who did not participate, and that the gap between the participating and non-participating students grew over time. By training the next generation of healthcare professionals in authentic empathy for their clients, as well as competency in addressing the SDoH that exacerbate their health needs, Dr. Vause Earland and her team believe that a lasting, positive change can be made to our healthcare system.

A virtual wrap-up session for this year’s 3Cs program is scheduled for April 9, 2022. For any questions, or to request a consultation on implementing an interprofessional complex care student program, please contact Dr. Vause Earland or JCIPE. Below, further reading is provided for additional information.

JCIPE FY20 Annual Report

DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Occupational Therapy & Industrial Design

Insights from an inaugural eight-month interprofessional collaborative between Occupational Therapy & Industrial Design

The design of the built environment greatly impacts how all types of individuals and populations actively participate in their daily lives. Lack of access in the built environment for disabled populations remains a daily reality, negatively impacting engagement and life satisfaction, leading to isolation, loneliness and depression.

A university in the northeastern U.S. sought to expand current constructs of the end-user and environment within a universal design (UD) perspective. On an eight-month inaugural interprofessional collaborative co-design experience, third-year occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) students were embedded in a first-year master’s of industrial design (MSID) curriculum, which ran the course of the academic calendar (two consecutive semesters: fall and spring).

Primary aims were to determine, via an interrupted time-series quantitative design, if embedding OTD students within the industrial design curriculum influenced the MSID students’ prior assumptions, understanding of disability and whether it enhanced their willingness to create more inclusive final products.

Quantitative findings indicated that it was difficult to capture the meaningful change that occurred in the doctoral capstone program experience with the existing psychometric tools available. Anecdotal mixed-method findings indicated that informal interprofessional learning experiences in the classroom, such as lectures and learning activities created and facilitated by the OTD students, broadened and enhanced the MSID students’ knowledge surrounding disability and accessibility. A detailed literature review and description of the program have been provided, along with suggestions to capture meaningful outcomes for longer-term interdisciplinary collaborations.

Read More

STUDENT FEATURE

From Patient to Future Practitioner: My Experience at the Steel Conference

Martha Childress (Class of 2022, OTD Program)

My spinal cord injury (SCI) almost 9 years ago changed the trajectory of my life, both personally and professionally. I had never heard about occupational therapy until my first day of inpatient rehabilitation. But my experience receiving occupational therapy fueled me to pursue OT as a career so I could partner with and serve individuals like myself.

The decision led me to the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program here at Jefferson. My time as a student has opened my eyes to just what occupational therapy can do and the impact it can have, but none more so than my doctoral capstone experience at our Center for Outcomes and Measurement in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences.

As part of my doctoral experience, I have been assisting in the development and validation of an outcome assessment for SCI clinical trials. I have collaborated with two other doctoral students on their capstone projects, assisting in an integrative review of literature on outcome measures used to assess carry-over effects of interventions. The collaboration also involved collecting data to develop normative values for spine range of motion in female adolescents.

In addition to this work, I have received training in Coaching in Context and learned about the importance of cognitive interviewing in developing patient-reported outcome measures. While all the work I get to participate in is exciting, one of my favorite aspects about this placement is that much of my work is focused on the field of SCI. I am able to interact and assist with an outcome assessment that may improve the quality of SCI clinical trials. It's incredibly fulfilling to know that the work I am doing has the potential to directly impact the SCI community.  

Part of my capstone experience included attending Coaching in Context trainings on the use of coaching within occupational therapy with Dr. Marie-Christine Potvin and Dr. Ashley Seiver to learn more about the benefits of this approach. I participated in simulated coaching sessions with a partner to reinforce the techniques I learned during these trainings. Until my doctoral capstone, I had not been exposed to coaching in the didactic or experiential curriculum. Learning about coaching and how it empowers and moves clients to make their own decisions made me think about my own rehabilitation experience and if coaching sessions would have been helpful at that stage in my life. I think it would have been.

Another unique opportunity of my doctoral capstone was the chance to participate in the 2021 Howard H. Steel Conference in Orlando, Florida. The Howard H. Steel Conference is an international scientific meeting focused on pediatric SCI and dysfunction. It occurs every three years and is sponsored by the Steel Assembly, an affiliate of the American Spinal Injury Association. The opportunity to participate was made available through my faculty mentor, Dr. MJ Mulcahey, who is the chair of the Steel Assembly Board of Governors. I was thrilled and flattered I was asked to attend this meeting with some of the world’s foremost experts on pediatric SCI practice and research. 

During the meeting, I assisted Dr. Potvin, associate professor of occupational therapy at Jefferson, and Dr. Rachel Y. Kim, one of my onsite capstone mentors and a clinical research coordinator for The Center for Outcomes and Measurement, with a 90-minute interactive workshop entitled Infusing Coaching in Your Practice to Optimize Outcomes. The Center for Outcomes and Measurement offers an advanced practice graduate certificate in coaching for rehabilitation, education and human services professionals.

The purpose of this workshop was to introduce conference attendees to Coaching in Context and practice coaching techniques that can be infused into rehabilitation practices with children with SCI. Assisting with the coaching workshop allowed me to utilize my therapeutic use of self to engage the participants and practice various coaching methods.

The Steel Conference also focused on the lived experience of those with SCI. I participated in a panel, Priorities and Lived Experiences of Persons with SCI, to share my experience as an individual with a SCI and a future occupational therapist. I was part of this panel with two other individuals, Jeff and Samuel, who added great insight and levity to the discussion. Samuel was a young 15-year-old from Sweden who reminded me a lot of myself. He was humorous but honest and wanted everyone in the audience to understand his perspective as a young person with a disability. He also reminded me of why I wanted to be an occupational therapist. Jeff was a testament to what is possible if you continue to try, even when life keeps knocking you down. His passion for his work and his family set an example of what my life could look like in the future, full of love and dedication. Serving on this panel with Jeff and Samuel was encouraging and empowering. Having people ask and listen about the perspectives of those with SCI is important if positive actions and changes ever want to be made for our lives.

My experience at the Steel Conference allowed me to gain knowledge and practice skills that will serve me toward graduation in May and beyond. Participating in the workshop and panel provided me with opportunities to practice presenting and speaking to large audiences, which I found enjoyable. I was able to connect with so many passionate clinicians and researchers, learn about the work they are currently doing for kids with SCI and dysfunction, and understand the work that still needs to be done for this population in the future. Attending Steel reinforced my choice to become an occupational therapist and help those with SCI. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would contribute to such meaningful work that betters both my community and myself. 

Meet Our Students

Dylan Bobek (Class of 2023, MSOT)

Why did you choose Jefferson?

Having moved to Philly in 2013 after graduating from undergrad, I knew the expansiveness of Jefferson and resources available in their network. I was especially excited about the environmental design aspect of the curriculum.

Why do you want to be an occupational therapist?

I spent several years in early childhood education as a teacher and was interested in changing fields. I was encouraged to pursue occupational therapy because of its wide scope and intersection with medical systems. I want to be in a field of lifelong learners, and I think I’ve found that in OT.

What is the best part of your educational experience?

It’s been amazing to learn how to learn from fellow students as well as faculty. The best parts are when I understand interventions better because of new medical knowledge and notice that I’m building my holistic clinical reasoning.

What activities have you been involved in at Jefferson East Falls?

I’m on the Center City Campus; I love hearing about backgrounds that people bring into OT. Often what I learn in class drives more questions, so my studying is coupled with deep dives semi off topic. The most recent one was Marxism’s connection to OT in relation to terms like occupational alienation. Fascinating!

What’s something people would be surprised to find out about you?

I talk a lot so I don’t know what would be surprising; maybe that I’m not focused on pediatrics for practice, though I’m open to it. I feel like adults need more experiences of play and creativity. Believing in the therapeutic aspects of play at all ages drives me to want to work in adult or intergenerational settings.

Ashley Gelenites (Class of 2023, MSOT-East Falls Program)

Why did you choose Jefferson?

Jefferson has a faculty full of occupational therapists from different specialties, populations and research projects that I knew would better support my learning. Jefferson’s fieldwork program also stood out to me, with the range of settings available. The hybrid model was a perfect fit for my lifestyle, giving me the ability to lean on my own time while still working part time.

Why do you want to be an occupational therapist?

To encourage and enable independence to individuals and families who may think they have lost it for good. The world of OT is so large and diverse, that I know I can make a difference in more ways than I can even list.

What is the best part of your educational experience?

Hearing lectures and completing class activities from OTs from all over. Our education is not limited to just our professors. We have been exposed to many different OTs in specialties such as hand therapy, burns, amputations, assistive technology, etc. Making these connections allows us to branch out in the field more.

What activities have you been involved in at Jefferson East Falls?

I have been involved in the Student Faculty Task Force. This group aims to improve communication between the students and faculty to allow for a better learning experience for all.

What’s something people would be surprised to find out about you?

I think people would be surprised to find out that I am an only child.

Maggie Grehlinger (Class of 2023, BS-MSOT)

Why did you choose Jefferson?

I chose Jefferson due to its unique undergraduate study options, which in my case was the BS/MS occupational therapy program. I knew that by attending Jefferson I would have the opportunity to be mentored by a variety of successful and inspiring professionals throughout my educational experience. I also loved the campus as soon as I visited. Its proximity to center city combined with the greenery of a traditional college campus is unbeatable.

Why do you want to be an occupational therapist?

After considering a variety of careers such as physical therapy, nursing, teaching, and social work, I discovered occupational therapy through career exams on the internet. After further educating myself on occupational therapy, I was instantly struck by the way the profession captured aspects that I loved about every single career I had previously considered. Occupational therapists are empathic, problem-solvers, teachers, helpers, advocates and more. I was intrigued by the opportunity to have all of these qualities at once, and I continue to be intrigued and excited to be a part of this profession every day over five years later.

What is the best part of your educational experience?

The community that is created at Jefferson. In both my undergraduate and graduate experiences, I have felt like I was part of a community that truly care about each other’s success and supported each other. The faculty members create a safe, understanding and supportive environment for professional and personal growth. This feeling of community and support is expanded in the relationships I have made with many of my classmates as well.

What activities have you been involved in at Jefferson East Falls?

I worked at the Gallagher Athletic Center for four years and was the recipient of the Bucky Harris Scholarship award for my last two years there. I worked in the Office of Student Engagement for one year as a first year experience coordinator, where I planned events for freshman to have special opportunities to explore Philadelphia. I participated in clubs such as the undergraduate student occupational therapy association, volunteered for a Big Brother Big Sister program and presented biological research as early as my freshman year. During graduate school, I have been an active member of the student occupational therapy association and the student faculty task force. I have volunteered in our Well Elders program as well.

What’s something people would be surprised to find out about you?

I am passionate about fitness and have worked in the fitness industry throughout my college experience. Scheduling in workouts is almost as important to me as scheduling in time to complete my school work. I ran my first half marathon spontaneously while enrolled in the master’s portion of the program. Running is my favorite way to take study breaks, clear my mind and get fresh air.

Lily Levis (Class of 2022, MSOT-East Falls Program)

Why did you choose Jefferson?

I chose Jefferson because of the reputable Accelerated Occupational Therapy program. Also, I enjoy the smaller class sizes and hands-on experiences we are offered.

Why do you want to be an occupational therapist?

I wanted to become an occupational therapist when I observed my grandfather receiving occupational therapy services for Parkinson's disease. A few years later, I shadowed an occupational therapist and really enjoyed figuring out creative solutions to help people out with activities of daily living.

What is the best part of your educational experience?

I’d say my Occupational Therapy cohort, because everyone is very supportive and always offering a helping hand. I love how everyone is very welcoming and accepting toward everyone in our program.

What activities have you been involved in at Jefferson East Falls?

I have been involved in Active Minds, which is a club that helps spread awareness about mental health. I was the vice president of the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) and helped plan activities and events on campus to spread awareness about anything related to occupational therapy. I also wrote articles for Her Campus, which is an online magazine for college women.

What’s something people would be surprised to find out about you?

Last year, I got my first puppy! He is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Coco.

Sara Mathai (Class of 2024, OTD Program)

Why did you choose Jefferson?

Jefferson’s initiatives with community-based occupational therapy captured my attention. Coming from a background in community health, I was looking for a program that emphasized community practice and health equity. Since Philadelphia is my home, I loved the idea of learning and applying these concepts in the city I am from and care about!

Why do you want to be an occupational therapist?

I did not quite understand what occupational therapy was all about when I first heard the name. However, my experiences and education led me to know that I wanted my career to center around making health and well-being accessible to all people.  Occupational therapy is about centering the person and the things in life they want to do or need to do that bring them meaning. I loved that, as a future occupational therapist, I would have the opportunity to get to know people in meaningful ways, and I could collaborate with them to work towards their goals, health and well-being. 

What is the best part of your educational experience?

I have loved getting to know my cohort! As we experience our educational program, many of us have noticed our minds expanding with new thought processes centered on the concept of occupation. Even in our first year of the program, many of us can say we have started to develop new lenses of processing the immediate world around us. It has been great to discuss these new perspectives together.

What activities have you been involved in at Jefferson?

I work as a graduate assistant under the mentorship of Dr. Tina DeAngelis. Through this opportunity, I have been able to help coordinate opportunities for occupational therapy students on Center City and East Falls campuses to volunteer with community organizations. I also have helped to coordinate fun social events for students across campuses.

What’s something people would be surprised to find out about you?

I once hiked in the Andes Mountains in South America. It was the month of June, and there was snow everywhere -- a beautiful and new experience for me! I can also speak Spanish conversationally, although I am working on improving.

Maria Sanchez  (Class of 2024, MSOT-East Falls Program)

Why did you choose Jefferson?

It was a hybrid program that offered great flexibility and it is one of the best programs out there! I heard that the professors and instructors care about your success and want us to succeed. It was also a perfect location since it is close to home and my place of employment.

Why do you want to be an occupational therapist?

I want to be able to help people live meaningful lives and be able to help them achieve as much independence as possible in their lives.

What is the best part of your educational experience?

The accessibility, flexibility and openness of the professors and instructors. I also love my cohort. We are supportive of one another and we are always in constant communication to make sure we are all doing OK. 

What activities have you been involved in at Jefferson East Falls?

Student Leadership Roundtable and the Student Faculty Task Force. Jefferson and the school offer great webinars, speaker meetings and lectures for interprofessional work. I always attend those!

What’s something people would be surprised to find out about you?

I had brain surgery at Jefferson in 2012. 

Kaden Wilkinson (Class of 2024, BSMSOT-East Falls Program)

Why did you choose Jefferson?

I choose Jefferson because of its reputation. Jefferson institutions have always had a large presence in Philadelphia. So much so that I was born in a Jefferson hospital! Being that I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in health sciences, Jefferson had always been the place I imagined myself at when anticipating my return to academia following high school.

Why do you want to be an occupational therapist?

Occupational therapy does not confine practitioners to a single discipline. It is a very holistic approach to therapy and that truly captured my interest. Instead of choosing a career that defines me, I chose a career in which my personal interests could be accommodated, even if they change over time.

I also believe the healthcare system is too standardized in that most practitioners must adhere to strict guidelines when administering therapy or health services. This is not necessarily the case with occupational therapy. Given its holistic nature, I can use my own specialized knowledge and traits to shape the way in which I approach therapy.

What is the best part of your educational experience?

I have been overwhelmed with the amount of support I have received from individuals in my cohort. Reflecting on my first year in the program, I attribute the vast majority of my knowledge retention to the helping hands extended by my peers. On many occasions subject matter would be posed in a manner that was not coherent with my learning style. However, I was never alone, as many of my peers shared the same learning style and went out of their way to help me comprehend course-related content.

The faculty has also been very welcoming. I enjoy being in the presence of my instructors -- they do an excellent job providing a safe and accommodating learning space for me and my peers.

What activities have you been involved in at Jefferson East Falls?

I have been involved in Greek life since the second semester of freshman year. I have even assumed the role of president of my fraternity in the past. My time in Greek life will forever be one of the main things I reminisce about when thinking back to my undergrad experiences. I have my fraternity to thank for various networking opportunities and lifelong friendships.

What’s something people would be surprised to find out about you?

I have been training in martial arts since I could walk, and attribute it to my discipline and work ethic. I am also a huge tech geek.

ALUMNI

Lady Rios-Vega (OTD, 2021)

Congratulations to Dr. Lady Rios-Vega, who was selected as the recipient of the American Occupational Therapy Foundation’s Nancy Talbot Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. Dr. Rios-Vega will collaborate with the Jefferson Autism Center of Excellence (JeffACE) on a research project to reduce disparities in the utilization of occupational therapy services for Black and African American children with autism and their families. 

SCHOLARSHIPS OPEN DOORS

The only thing better than having a door opened for you is opening a door for someone else. That’s what scholarships do: They open doors to the future by giving support to our students as they embark on careers in Occupational Therapy and more. That’s what you can do. Open the door for a student who will make a difference. You can be a difference maker too by supporting one, or both, of our newest scholarships.

  • The Dr. Janice P. Burke Scholarship honors a former Jefferson dean and co-founder of the widely influential Model of Human Occupation. Scholarship awards are aimed at creating a more diverse student body and will be given to first-year Occupational Therapy students pursing a master’s degree on the Center City Campus.

    Make a gift to the Dr. Janice P. Burke Scholarship by visiting Jefferson.edu/BurkeScholarship
  • The Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells Scholarship honors the memory of a transgender person who was murdered in 2020. A group of Jefferson Occupational Therapy students, now alumni, worked with her at Morris House, a residential recovery program in Philadelphia that serves transgender and gender-variant people. The scholarship supports transgender and gender nonconforming students at Thomas Jefferson University who are Black, indigenous, or people of color.

    Learn more about the scholarship or make a gift at Jefferson.edu/Fells

Jefferson Alumni Network

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