Monthly Archives: May 2014

NYU OT Participates at the 2014 AOTA Conference

The Department extends its congratulations to the many NYU OT faculty, students and alumni who took part in the 2014 Annual AOTA Conference in Baltimore, from April 3-6.

A special congratulation goes out to Elizabeth Griffin Lannigan, ‘04 PhD, OTR/L, who was named to the American Occupational Therapy Association Roster of Fellows (FAOTA) at the conference.

The NYU Steinhardt OT faculty participated at the conference through the following lectures and presentations:

Associate Professor Kristie Patten Koenig

  • “Early Motor Indicators for Toddlers with Suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Implications for OT Practice” with Maria Cecilia Figueroa, OT, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
  • “Shifting to a Strength-Based Practice for Adults With Autism: The Power of Self Advocacy” with Paul Kotler, Self-Advocate, Student, Media, PA; Lisa Parker, MS,OTR/L, Talk Inc., Media, PA

Associate Professor Tsu-Hsin Howe

  • “A Survey of Occupational therapy Practice in Beijing” Yun Shi, MA, Elmhurst, NY. Contributing authors Tsu-Hsin Howe, PhD, OTR, FAOTA and Kristie Patten Koenig, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Assistant Professor Tracy Chippendale

  • “Predictors of Depressive Symptoms Among Elders in Senior Residences”
  • “The Experience of Older Adults in Their Neighborhood: Community Mobility, Fall Risk, and Resources for Fall Presentation”

Clinical Associate Professor Anita Perr

  • “A Model of Wheelchair Users’ Participation in Community-Based, Discretionary Activities” with David Gray, PhD; Gary Winkel, PhD

Adjunct Faculty Member and Clinical Placement Administrator, Renee Ortega

  • “Transition to Blended Learning and Learning To Blend in Transit: Developing a Hybrid Program for Entry-Level OT” Katherine Dimitropoulou,‘06 PhD, OTR/L; Doris Obler, PhD, OTR/L; Michael Pizzi, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA; Holly Wasserman, MS, OTR/L, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY
  • “(AOTA) OTA Forum: Report of Findings of OTA Education Ad Hoc Committee on Entry-Level Degree” Julie Kalahar, MS, OTR/L, Lake Area Technical Institute, Waverton, SD; Tara Franks, COTA/L, Restore Therapy Services, Birmingham, AL

Adjunct Faculty Member, Brigitte Desport

  • “Getting the Full Picture: Exploring Patterns of Neurobehavioral Problems for Children With Cerebral Palsy” with Leon Kirschner, MPH, OT/L, Rose Kennedy Center, New York, NY
  • “Taking Down the Walls: Identifying and Overcoming Barriers to Family Involvement in Assessment and Intervention” with Leon Kirschner, MPH, OT/L, CERC-Rose Kennedy Center, New York, NY

Adjunct Faculty Member, Nandita Singh

  • “Reaching to Restore Function: An Outpatient Model of Care for Clients with Spinal Cord Injury” with Maneshka Perera, MS, OTR/L, NYU Langone Medical Center-Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York, NY.

We would also like to recognize the participation of the following alumni and students:

Gary Bedell ’86, ’98
Ifetayo Blissett current PhD student
LaMar Bolden ‘09
Nettie Capasso ‘00
Brigette Desport ‘11
Katherine Dimitropoulou ‘06
Diane Dirette ‘97
Olivia Federico ‘05
Maria Cecilia Figueroa ‘13
Glen Gillen ‘89
Sharon Gutman ‘97
Neil Harvison ‘04
Furheen Khan ‘13
Glenn Martin ‘99
Laurie Knis Matthews ‘05
Marianne H. Mortera ‘04
Mara Podvey ‘09
Richard Sabel ‘97
Victoria Schindler ‘02
Sarah Schoen ‘01
Lisa Sheikovitz ‘05
Yun Shi ‘14
Francine Seruya ‘09
Joan Toglia ‘80
Victoria Titiloye ‘88

If there are any names that have been left out erroneously, please let us know, so we can include them here.

For a student account of the event click here

It was wonderful to catch-up with those of you who attended the Department‘s Annual Alumni Dessert Reception at the Baltimore Hilton on Friday April 4. This year we were pleased that so many of our current students were able to join us and had the opportunity to meet our alumni. We hope to see you all next year in Nashville! In the meantime, here are some photos from this year’s event:

Rite of passage: Connecting the dots at AOTA

As a first year occupational therapy student, sometimes I find it difficult to see how the lessons I learn in the classroom are relevant to my future practice. Attending the AOTA’s 94th Annual Conference and Expo, was a great way to make that connection. At the conference that took place from April 3-6, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland, I saw the energy and love that over six thousand OTs had for my future profession, and I was truly inspired.

I felt a greater appreciation for the theory we learn in class, when I attended a session that connected the neuroscience we learned last semester, with its clinical application in intervention strategies for people with functional movement disorder. I saw professors share their research with people who actually understood the implications of that research. The conference gave me an opportunity to spend some time learning about the role of occupational therapy in palliative and hospice care, an area in which I would like to practice someday. I fell in love with occupational therapy all over again at the conference, and was reminded of why I chose this field. We are a group of people who are dedicated to helping people live their lives in the most meaningful way and I am proud to be a future occupational therapist.

Posted by <a href="https://research.steinhardt.nyu.edu/site/spotlight/byline/charlene-woo/" rel="tag">Charlene Woo</a> on | Posted in Students | Leave a comment |

In memoriam – Mikaela Tick

Remembering one of our own

Mikaela’s friends and family dance to the beats of Zumba

Last summer, the occupational therapy department was deeply saddened to lose one of its own, Mikaela Lauren Tick when she passed away from medical complications. In the short period of time that Mikaela was a student at NYU in the OT Professional Program, she made a lasting impression on her classmates with her infectious smile and friendly demeanor. In her honor, Mikaela’s family and friends gathered together on April 24 to dedicate a night to her memory, and for a special cause close to her heart.

As a student of occupational therapy, Mikaela worked towards making a positive impact and improving the lives of individuals with special needs.  She had recently spent an enjoyable summer working for “Camp Helping Hands,” a program for children at St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children. In recognition of her commitment to empowering individuals with special needs through occupational therapy, her family started the MLT foundation, which has partnered with the St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children to raise funds for their occupational therapy services.

Mikaela’s friends and family dance to the beats of ZumbaOne of Mikaela’s classmates, Debra Strashun along with Mikaela’s childhood friends Lindsay Cohen, Kelly Klein and Tracy Wolfbiss helped organize the ‘Dance for Mikaela’ event with the support of the MLT foundation. At the start of the evening, several people, including Mikaela’s best friend Tracy, shared a few words about Mikaela and the MLT foundation with the OT students and other friends and family who had gathered for the event. Later, in the evening, Debra led them in a Zumba dance session.

Thanks to the overwhelming support of all those gathered that day, $2000 was raised for the MLT foundation.

To learn more about the foundation or to make a contribution please visit: http://www.mltfoundation.com.

Mikaela’ s friends pose at the fundraising event

Mikaela’ s friends pose at the fundraising event

Posted by <a href="https://research.steinhardt.nyu.edu/site/spotlight/byline/manasi-vaidya/" rel="tag">Manasi Vaidya</a> on | Posted in Department News, Students | Leave a comment |

Steinhardt Student Honor and Award recipients

The NYU OT Department extends its congratulations to this year’s Steinhardt Student Honor and Award recipients!

Grace Zhen En Chen, Samuel Eshborn Service Award
Kristin Marie Gulmi, Letha Hurd Morgan Award
Christopher Ho, Departmental Banner Bearer

Congratulations also to Kristie Koenig, Associate Professor and Department Chair, who will be serving as Steinhardt’s Chief Marshall at this year’s Valedictory Celebration at Radio City Music Hall on May 19th.