WashU Medicine Occupational Therapy

Register now for one of our Spring Info Sessions! Kathy Kniepmann, OTD, CHES, OTR/L, will discuss the Program and answer questions about admissions, our entry-level degree programs, student life or any question you may have! Register at ot.washu.edu/info or scan the QR code. #oteducation #futureOT

We are proud to introduce our 18th PhD graduate! Samantha Randolph, MA, OTR/L, defended her dissertation “Toward an Understanding of Loneliness and Social Participation in Mental Illness” on Feb. 19. She was mentored by Lisa Connor, PhD, MSOT, OTR/L, associate dean and director of occupational therapy. #participationscience #PHinisheD

Congratulations to Catherine H., who will receive a 2025 American Occupational Therapy Foundation Certificate of Appreciation for serving on their Award Committee from 2021 to 2024. In that role, Hoyt reviewed all award applicants and met with the committee to discuss and select winners. She was also honored with a 2024 Certificate of Appreciation for her volunteerism and for securing $50,000 to establish the Dr. Carolyn Baum Cognitive Function in Daily Life Mentor Award to fund future trainees.

Congratulations to Lindsay Spell, OTD, OTR/L, whose Nancy Talbot Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award was renewed for 2025! Her project is the Asthma Home Occupation-based Modified Environmental Assessment (HOME). In year two, she will be conducting user testing to assess the acceptability of Asthma HOME among occupational therapists and establish a community advisory board to refine the assessment. She will be honored at the 2025 American Occupational Therapy Foundation's State of the Science Symposium in Philadelphia on April 4. Read more: https://ow.ly/Veyo50UZIuA

Here is the accompanying article on St. Louis Public Radio on our WashU Assistive Technology Make-a thon! Thank you again to health reporter Sarah Fentem for covering our event! https://lnkd.in/gpDqDc-K

Deanna M. Barch, PhD, joins hosts Kelly Harris, PhD, CCC-SLP, and Catherine H., to discuss why kindness matters in science, the value of kindness when participating in interprofessional collaboration with other medical professionals, balancing leadership, and mentorship, and sharing practical strategies for being thoughtful and responsive. To listen, visit https://ow.ly/At8V50UX8yQ or scan QR code. The podcast is available on Podbean, Apple, Google Podcast, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, PodChaser and Boomplay.

Join the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Week at WashU Medicine. All members of the community are invited to participate and reflect on ways to further Dr. King’s vision of justice and equality in our daily lives. From the kickoff of their book and film club to the commemoration of the Desegregation History exhibit and updates on their DEI initiatives, there’s something for everyone. Highlighting the week, Dr. Kemi Doll will deliver a keynote as part of the Inclusive Excellence Speaker Series.

Congratulations to Erin Foster, PhD, OTD, OTR/L who will receive the American Occupational Therapy Foundation's (AOTA’s) Roster of Fellows Award at AOTA’s Inspire 2025 Annual Conference & Expo in Philadelphia, Pa. The Roster of Fellows recognizes occupational therapists who through their knowledge, expertise, leadership, advocacy, and/or guidance have made a significant contribution over time to the profession with a measured impact on consumers of occupational therapy services and/or members of the Association. Foster is being recognized for “advancing science and practice supporting functional cognition.”

Rachel Proffitt Wolpert, OTD, OTR/L, joins hosts Kelly Harris, PhD, CCC-SLP, and Catherine Hoyt, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, to discuss barriers in graduate school and other relevant topics such as sustaining a healthy system with school, reporting sexual harassment, mentor relationships, fostering safe spaces for students, finding the right person, and understanding institutional responses and culture. To listen, visit https://ow.ly/xK0p50UEtce or scan QR code. The podcast is available on Podbean, Apple, Google Podcast, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, PodChaser and Boomplay.

We relish in the opportunity to celebrate and honor you, our alumni. Recently, we caught up with Joni Kamiya, MSOT ’99, OTR/L, who is passionate about her family and their papaya farm and helping others through OT. Those two sides of Kamiya have shaped her OT practice and “ag-vocate” efforts as she helps people live meaningful lives in her home state of Hawai’i. Learn more: https://ow.ly/mfgS50UtGCX #WashUAlumni