Greetings Alumni—We are Pioneer Proud to send you information about how your peers from Texas Woman’s University are shaping occupational therapy today and for the future. We wanted this newsletter to focus on some of the entrepreneurs among us. We were inspired by what we discovered and now we are excited to share these stories with you. Other exciting news is that Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 1126 establishing the three campuses of Texas Woman’s University as the nation's first university system committed to women. We are thrilled to introduce you to some new faculty members who bring well-honed expertise and fresh energy that rejuvenates the faculty as a whole. We are also proud of our faculty, staff and students and offer you highlights about recent virtual and campus-based events. Together, we are impressive, strong and impactful—and that includes you.
- Cynthia Evetts, PhD, OTR
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OT alumnae share lessons learned in becoming successful entrepreneurs |
Many occupational therapists decide to open their own practices or other businesses, but the road to entrepreneurship can be a hard one. Three of our OT alumnae share their experiences and what they learned along the way. |
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TWU OT graduate student receives new fellowship |
Alondra Ammon was awarded the WoMentoring in Graduate Education Fellowship through the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership. She will be working alongside her mentor to develop a continuing education OT practitioner curriculum focused on cultivating culturally responsive approaches to care. |
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TWU provides unique camp experience for children with cerebral palsy |
School of Occupational Therapy faculty members are always searching for ways to combine research and therapy that not only aids patients but also contributes to new knowledge in their profession. This summer, they were able to do both by providing children with cerebral palsy a camp to improve the use of their upper extremities and have fun in the process. |
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TWU faculty and students use occupational therapy to alleviate trauma in minors |
When Dallas opened an emergency shelter for unaccompanied minors fleeing violence in North Central America in spring 2021, the School of Occupational Therapy faculty and students jumped at the opportunity to use their skills to help. |
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16th Annual Bridging the Gap |
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By Sarah Hancock
The Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE) TWU Delta chapter - Denton hosted the 16th Annual Bridging the Gap event on Oct. 22, 2021. PTE is an honor society that promotes research and scholarship among occupational therapy students. Bridging the Gap is an annual event hosted by PTE Denton that serves to connect research to practice by engaging students and practitioners within the field in enriching discussions.
This year, attendees of Bridging the Gap had the pleasure of learning from the knowledge and experience of keynote speaker, Tina Fletcher, EdD, MFA, OTR. Fletcher spoke on her research and manuscript, “Perceptions of Individuals With and Without Autism Regarding Social Participation.” The main topics discussed were autism terminology, transition planning for individuals with autism and research focused on the supports and barriers of social participation for individuals with and without autism.
Following Fletcher’s presentation, attendees engaged in a fruitful discussion with esteemed panelists Suzanne Gabris, MOT, OTR/L, Susan Nichols, PhD, BCBA-D, Morgan McKay, BCBA, LBA, and Anne Sullivan, MOT, OTR/L.
Thank you to Pi Theta Epsilon members, Dr. Fletcher, and our panelists for their contributions to the success of this year’s Bridging the Gap event.
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Professional Reasoning Colloquium |
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By Orley Templeton,
OTD, OTR/L
The School of Occupational Therapy partnered with Schell Consulting and Wolters-Kluwer Publishing to host the virtual Professional Reasoning Colloquium Oct. 8-9, 2021. More than 100 occupational therapy scholars from nine countries across 10 time zones participated in presentations and interdisciplinary dialogues about professional reasoning. Attendees garnered an interdisciplinary perspective of professional reasoning via discussion with nursing and engineering professionals.
The themes that emerged throughout the colloquium included the importance of context, reflection and embodiment. Occupational therapists’ professional reasoning must be situated within the context of the healthcare system and the client’s culture to meet clients’ needs effectively. Numerous presentations highlighted the importance of reflection and embodiment as critical aspects of professional reasoning. Participants also engaged in rich discussions about professional reasoning measurement tools, the influence of theory and methods to facilitate the progression of occupational therapy practitioners’ and students’ professional reasoning across the expertise continuum.
The Schell-TWU Planning Committee included: Barbara Boyt Schell (Schell Consulting), John Schell (Schell Consulting), Noralyn Pickens (TWU), Laura Mirochna (Teaching and Learning with Technology), Orley Templeton, (TWU PhD student), Marsha Neville (TWU), Treva Smith (TWU graduate student), and Cindy Howell (Teaching and Learning with Technology).
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29th Annual Vanderkooi
Endowed Lectureship
Friday, February 11, 2022
Demonstrating Occupational Therapy’s Unique Value with a Manualized Wellness Intervention
Featuring Catana Brown, PhD, OTR
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The School of Occupational Therapy welcomed five new faculty members to its impressive ranks this fall. |
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Tanya Benjamin-Thomas, PhD, OT |
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Jerilyn Callen, MSOT,
OTD, OTR
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Camille Ko, MOT, OTD, OTR, CBIS |
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Supriya Sen, MS, OTD, OTR |
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Congratulations to our 2021 graduates! |
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Post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy:
- Heather Fite
- Carla Hamilton
- Elizabeth (Liz) Libson
- Bebe Makena
- Jessica Montoya
- Wendy Patrick-Domangue
- Marie Patterson
- Muneerah Ramesh
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PhD in Occupational Therapy:
Joseph Nowak
Dissertation: Comparison of assumptions and key core constructs between the occupational adaptation model and the Vona Du Toit model of creative ability
Bogulsawa Syrotiak
Dissertation: The development of a community-based occupational therapy retirement transition program for first responders and their families
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TWU occupational therapy graduate finds more than just an education at university |
Texas Woman’s is known as the “campus with a heart” for the care and attention given to each and every student, especially when those students, like December 2021 MOT graduate Sommer Moreno, find themselves balancing their education while starting a family. |
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TWU OT alumna featured on AOTA podcast |
Alumna Aimee Piller, PhD '16, was the featured guest on AOTA's Everyday Evidence podcast. She discussed generating, implementing and promoting evidence in pediatric occupational therapy practice. |
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See you at AOTA Inspire 2022 in San Antonio! |
We look forward to celebrating being together at AOTA Inspire 2022 in San Antonio this year.
Look for details about TWU presentations and an Alumni Fiesta.
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Support TWU
OT Students
Please consider giving any amount to the Occupational Therapy Faculty and Alumni Scholarship, a robust scholarship fund that, when endowed, will provide financial support for OT students in need.
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Stay Connected with the
TWU School of Occupational Therapy
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