Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effectiveness Of A Mindfulness Program On Traumatic Upper Extremity Injuries, Chloe M. Greer, Zeida Gutierrez, Julie Ward

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

The general overview of this research study is to develop and assess the effectiveness of a mindfulness program for supporting the psychosocial symptoms that are associated with post traumatic UE injuries. Mindfulness as an intervention will be used to support possible negative psychosocial implications the patient is experiencing post traumatic injury.

Researching Effective Interventions Within Occupational Therapy For Individuals With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Brooklyn Devenny, Zeida Gutierrez, Jen Neuenfeldt

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This research project assessed client and clinician perceptions on the effectiveness of treatment interventions for CRPS. The purpose of this research was to assess the effectiveness of interventions for CRPS as perceived by clinicians and clients to evaluate the impact on client function and overall satisfaction coping with CRPS.

Advocacy For On-Campus Occupational Therapy In College Athletics, Doyle C. Taylor, Keisa Boykin

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This project focuses on a growing issue in college sports: the lack of accessible, specialized rehabilitation for student-athletes. Many universities rely on off-campus providers for occupational therapy, which often leads to delays in treatment, missed appointments, and inconsistent care. To address this gap, the project advocates for the integration of occupational therapists directly into athletic departments. By developing and delivering educational workshops, distributing advocacy materials, and engaging with key stakeholders, the project highlights how on-campus OT services can streamline care, improve recovery outcomes, and support both the physical and mental well-being of student-athletes. The goal is to bring awareness to …

Advocating For Pots; A Misdiagnosed And Underserved Population, Abbey E. Zimmers, Zeida Gutierrez

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a form of dysautonomia that primarily affects the autonomic nervous system, making daily activities such as standing or concentrating difficult due to symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and brain fog. It is most common in young women, often triggered by autoimmune diseases, viral infections, or trauma. POTS is under-diagnosed, with healthcare providers often unaware of its full spectrum of symptoms and the role of occupational therapy in managing daily function. Occupational therapy (OT) can significantly improve quality of life by helping patients manage symptoms and regain independence. Raising awareness of POTS and the benefits of …

The Impact Of A Sel-Based School Transition Readiness Program For Fifth Grade Students, Abigail V. Hall, Cynthia Haynes, Trish Chialastri

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This poster presents a study that developed and evaluated a Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) based educational program designed to support fifth-grade students transitioning to middle school. This program targeted five key SEL skills: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social-Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making. The study aimed to improve students' occupational performance and self-perceived skill sets while also expanding knowledge on the role of OT with a psychosocial emphasis. The research addresses the gap in knowledge regarding SEL-based interventions for supporting students during critical educational transitions.

Assessing Social Media Experiences Of Young Adults And Its Impact On Mental Functions And Daily Routine Performances, Dominique E. Barron, Lakeisa Boykin

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project is a qualitative research study investigating the relationship between social media and the wellbeing of users.

Support Group Development For The Mental Health Of Parents Of Children With Complex Diagnoses, Sarah G. Bonner, Lakesia Boykin, Dana Madalon

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This presentation covers support group program development for the mental health of parents of children with complex diagnoses. It outlines the need for emotional support, describes the group activities used to promote coping and resilience, and explains how the program was implemented and evaluated using pre- and post-surveys.

Exploring The Impact Of Ot On Pain Management & Quality Of Life In Individuals Following Lower Limb Amputation, Fernanda D. Massey, Lakeisa Boykin

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project explores the role of occupational therapy (OT) in managing pain and enhancing quality of life (QoL) for individuals following lower limb amputation (LLA). Despite OT's recognized potential in addressing physical and psychosocial challenges, there is a lack of research specifically examining its impact on pain management outcomes post-amputation. This mixed-methods study involved quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with 11 participants to assess their experiences with OT services, pain strategies, and QoL. Results highlighted both the benefits and limitations of current OT interventions, emphasizing the need for personalized, client-centered approaches. Themes such as the search for non-pharmacological strategies, …

Iowa Conference On Communicative Disorders [Program, 2025], Iowa Conference On Communicative Disorders

Iowa Conference on Communicative Disorders Programs

The Iowa Conference on Communicative Disorders provides continuing education activities in speech- language pathology that are acceptable to the State of Iowa and the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association. Areas of emphasis include adults and pediatrics.

Ready To Shine: A Framework For Coaching K-12 Educators To Support Diverse Learners, Kathleen Childs, Angela Blackwell, Katie Gebhart

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

The Ready to Shine: A Framework for Coaching K-12 Educators to Support Diverse Learners is meant to guide occupational therapy practitioners in training and coaching educators to implement strategies to support students with social-emotional, behavioral, sensory, or other unique needs. Through this framework, practitioners will aim to equip educators with the confidence, self-efficacy, and competence to use tools and/or techniques that promote participation and performance among their students.

An Independent Living Skills Training Guide For Direct Support Professionals Working With People With Intellectual Or Developmental Disabilities, Nigel Yeo, Steven Gerardi Phd, Otd, Mss, Otr

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) serve an important role in assisting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in many aspects of their lives through the provision of care and support. Despite lacking in knowledge and training to support the potentially complex and varied presentation of people with IDD, DSPs are in a position to help their clients address and improve on their independent living skills that are important for autonomy and overall well-being. The capstone project developed the Independent Living Skills Teaching Guide (ILSTG), as a tool for DSPs, containing activity plans related to independent living skills, activity modifications based …

Building Bridges: A Community Health Worker Training Course, Taylor A. Ramsey, Lesley Khan-Farooqi, Phd, Otd, Otr, Dr. Sharita Ambrose, Dhed., Mph, Ches, Chwi

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Building Bridges: A Community Health Worker Training Course is a comprehensive 20-hour continuing education course designed for community health workers (CHWS) who work with Black pregnant women. This training course was developed for and in collaboration with Allure Alliance Incorporated, a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of Black women through community programming, education, and advocacy. This training course reflects an interprofessional collaborative approach to addressing the racial disparities in the Black maternal health population in the U.S. The course includes evidence-based strategies and health management interventions derived from the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 4th Edition (OTPF-4), …

Enhancing Concussion Management: Addressing The Needs Of Student-Athletes, Coaches, And Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Anya Vernon, Lesley Khan-Farooqi, Tyra Lea

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

There are limited educational resources available on concussion management for occupational therapy practitioners, coaches, and student-athletes which can limit access to comprehensive occupational therapy services for clients who have sustained a concussion, ultimately hindering participation in sport and overall wellbeing. The purpose of this capstone was to develop a comprehensive guidebook for coaches and student-athletes and a comprehensive handbook for occupational therapy practitioners to raise awareness in concussion education and clarify occupational therapy's role on a multidisciplinary concussion management team. This project addresses the growing need for concussion education among student-athletes and coaches, improves understanding of concussion signs and symptoms, …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Care Of Informal Caregivers Of People With Dementia: A Concept Analysis, Ashley M. Taylor, Steven M. Gerardi, Elizabeth Deluca-Berg

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Informal caregivers (care partners) are people, such as family members, who provide care to those who cannot care for themselves, including people with dementia (PwD). Care partners assist PwD in their daily occupations, often without training. Caring for PwD can lead to emotional, physical, financial, and occupational challenges for care partners. Occupational therapy (OT) has a role to play in the care of PwD. However, if clinicians do not operate from a dyadic model, care partners’ needs may be overlooked. Problem: Although addressing the care partner dyad is important to the delivery of OT, the role of OT in the …

Enhancing Psychosocial Well-Being For Pediatric Oncology Clients: A Guidebook For Occupational Therapists, Marzia Khan, Lesley Khan-Farooqi, Brooke Weber

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project addressed the critical gap in psychosocial support for pediatric oncology clients by developing an evidence-based guidebook for occupational therapy (OT) practitioners. Grounded in the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO), the guidebook provides therapists with developmentally appropriate strategies to enhance emotional regulation, social participation, and engagement in meaningful activities for children aged 3 to 12 undergoing cancer treatment. The project identified key psychosocial challenges through qualitative interviews, needs assessments, and real-time clinical feedback and designed targeted interventions aligned with OT principles. The digital guidebook provides accessible, structured resources to support holistic, client-centered care and improve the quality of …

Occupational Therapy In Upper Limb Loss, Prosthetics, And Rehabilitation: A Video Training Series For Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Bailey M. Brown, Lesley Khan-Farooqi

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this capstone project was to deepen my understanding of upper limb prosthetics, observe patient care, and identify gaps in occupational therapy education related to upper limb loss, prosthetic use, and rehabilitation. A key objective was to support the Hanger Clinic by increasing the number of completed Upper Limb Prosthetic User Outcome Forms, as well as to capture photos and videos—separate from this video training series—to contribute to Hanger’s educational library. Additionally, the project aimed to develop practical resources for both patients and clinicians navigating upper limb loss. Insights gained throughout this experience informed the creation of a …

Sound Asleep: A Manual For Occupational Therapy Practitioners (Otp) Addressing Sleep-Related Challenges In Young Children, Lorie-Ann Love, Ellen M. Pope Otd, Otr/L, Angela L. Blackwell Phd, Otr

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project sought to address the limited competence and confidence of occupational therapy practitioners (OTP) in providing services for children and families facing sleep-related challenges. The objective was to enhance OTP knowledge and skills in delivering specialized sleep interventions through the development of an educational resource. The project was implemented across two settings: telehealth and an outpatient pediatric service, integrating both virtual and outdoor environments for occupational therapy (OT). Participants include OTP, OT students, and families of young children (ages 0-5) experiencing sleep disturbances.

The project followed a structured four-phase approach: strengths and needs assessment, development of an educational …

Learning What To Say Through Theater And Play: A Theater Arts Communication And Conflict Resolution Program For Neurodivergent Children, Elena Corsair, Steven M. Gerardi

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Joshua’s Stage is a theater-based enrichment program for children with special needs. Joshua’s Stage provides developmentally appropriate activities for their students, but they do not address clinical or functional problems. Problem: Joshua’s Stage does not provide specialized programming to meet the needs of neurodivergent children with communication problems and conflict resolution, making it difficult for these children to participate fully. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to create a theater arts communication and conflict resolution program for neurodivergent children to be integrated into Joshua’s Stage enrichment program. A four-week program, consisting of eight sessions, was developed over a 14-week …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Bladder And Bowel Management For Individuals With Spinal Cord Injuries: An Educational Video Series, Julia Ryan, Steven Gerardi, Heather Rennerfeldt

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners are uniquely positioned to support individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in developing effective bowel and bladder management (BBM) routines. However, most existing literature approaches BBM from a medical perspective, offering limited guidance on how to translate occupation-based strategies into OT practice. This lack of discipline-specific resources contributes to reduced confidence among generalist practitioners and hinders the consistent implementation of BBM interventions across inpatient and community settings. To address this gap, a nine-part educational video series was developed to enhance OT practitioners’ knowledge, clinical reasoning, and confidence in delivering BBM interventions for clients with SCI. The …

Graded Habilitation Activities For Direct Support Professionals: An Educational Video Series, Christi Cantu, Steven M. Gerardi, Daniel J. Burt

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project was created for direct support professionals (DSPs) to have a new resource for education and training on how to properly apply the concept of graded habilitation activities based on the Allen’s cognitive levels to the DSPs sessions. This capstone project was a need in the DSP community for DSPs provide direct care to people with intellectual or development disabilities (IDD). Therefore, this capstone project supports education and training DSPs need to optimally apply graded habilitation activities, based on participants’ cognitive level, to provide optimal services for people with IDD. Problem: DSPs lack knowledge of and education/training …

Bridges To Asd: Building Resilience, Self-Efficacy And Capacity In Belizean Caregivers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd), Katherine B. Anderton, Amy Satterthwaite, Angela Labrie Blackwell

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

The Bridges to ASD program was a capstone project that contributed to the nonprofit clinic in a developing country by providing resources and training sessions that potentially helped to unify the caregivers, the teachers and the therapists in their common goals to better support their children in the community with ASD.

Occupational Therapy For Participation In Spirituality For Individuals With Cancer: A Scoping Review, Natalie Fernandez, Lesley Khan-Farooqi, Steven Gerardi

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

The incidence of cancer continues to rise. For many individuals with cancer, spirituality is an important part of life. Spirituality impacts the individual’s meaning, purpose, self-identity, occupational engagement, occupational performance, and quality of life. However, there are sometimes barriers to participation in religions activities. Occupational therapy (OT) is indicated when people have barriers to participation. However, spirituality is not consistently addressed in OT practice and OT practitioners may not feel comfortable in addressing barriers to participation in spiritual activities among their clients with cancer. Objective: Scoping review methodology was used to answer the research question, how are OT practitioners addressing …

A Vomiting And Dyspneic Teenager, Janet Han, Do, Shireen Khan, Md

Jefferson Health - Northeast Posters (formerly Aria Health Posters)

History of Present Illness

CHIEF COMPLAINT: Shortness of Breath

15 y/o female with no pertinent PMHx presents to the emergency department with shortness of breath onset 3 days ago. Patient is also reporting cough, congestion, sore throat, subjective fever and chills, myalgias, as well as nausea and vomiting. Today, she states she is so nauseous she has tried to force herself to throw up several times. Since then, she has been experiencing neck pain with movement. Patient is UTD with all her vaccines. Denies alcohol and drug use. Initially denies vaping/smoking; later states she has vaped daily until her symptoms’ …

Hickam’S Dictum Of The Great Vessels: Saddle Embolism And Dissection, Eric Wetzel, Do, Kyle Mohney, Do, Jessica Schumann, Do, Olubunmi Olarewaju, Do

Jefferson Health - Northeast Posters (formerly Aria Health Posters)

History of Present Illness

Chief Complaint:
Shortness of breath

History of Present:
Illness A 66-year-old female with a past medical history of hypertension presents to the emergency department concerned for shortness of breath and palpitations. She reports her symptoms started abruptly while on a morning walk. She notes she took her home blood pressure medication this morning per her usual routine and had otherwise been feeling well. She describes feeling like she is having a “high grade panic attack”, similar to past panic attacks but with increased intensity. She denies associated weakness, numbness, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. …

04.07.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

New ORED Website Goes Live

Oxford Pitch Competition

Hughes Miller, Strategic Partnerships

Intouch Week Of April 7, 2025, New York Medical College

InTouch

• Ivor S. Douglas, M.D., to Lead Department of Medicine
• NYMedTalks Highlights Unique Medical Careers for First-year Medical Students
• Exploring Vision Restoration at the Neighborhood Science Seminar
• NYMC Goes Blue for Autism Awareness Month
• Unraveling the Spread of Candida auris
• Student Spotlight: Atara Schulhof Seeks Holistic Health Care Beyond the Scale

Disability-Related Diversity In Occupational Therapy: A Scoping Review, Molly Whitlow, Allison Singh, Johana Cedillo, Brady A. Harrison, Sydney Wondra

Posters and Presentations: Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Pacific Rxtracts - April 2025, Pacific Rxtracts

Pacific RxTracts

Articles:

• FDA Approves Miudella: First New Hormone-Free IUD in Over 40 Years
• First Treatment for Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis Approved
• Presepsin: A New Biomarker for Assessing Cardiovascular Disease
• New Insights into Severe NOWS Prediction
• Myasthenia Gravis: Nipocalimab, a Potential Add-on Therapy
• ARF/ARDS Concern with Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole in Youth
• Hormone Replacement Therapy: Beneficial for Managing Menopausal Symptoms Long-Term?
• Esketamine Shows Promise in Preventing Postpartum Depression After Cesarean Delivery
• From One Week to One Hour: FDA Approves Label Changes for Sublocade Rapid Induction in Patients with Moderate to Severe Opioid Use Disorder
• Repurposing Semaglutide: A Novel Approach to Alcohol Use Disorder
• Treating Neuropathic Pain: Pregabalin …

Analysis Of Vaginal Vs Cesarean Deliveries Based On Gestational Age In Ama Oneworld Pregnancies, Brittany Hauke, Melanie Menning, Peter Schindler

Posters and Presentations: Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

The Growth Of African American Nurses

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.