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Students recognized for leadership, research and more
By Kate Hunger
When Carolyn Perez first began the Speech-Language Pathology master’s program, she had not yet felt the pull of research. But after observing the research passion of her mentor, Rocío Norman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor, and working on a research project involving traumatic brain injury, Perez was hooked.
“Research is where it’s at,” she said of the potential of research to make a difference.
Students and faculty inducted to Alpha ETA Society
The School of Health Professions Alpha ETA Society inducted new student and faculty members in April.
To be eligible for membership in the society, undergraduates must earn at least a 3.5 GPA and show a capacity of leadership and achievement to be eligible for membership, while graduate students must have a 3.8 GPA and demonstrate the same leadership and achievement qualities.
Students celebrate OT Month and attend AOTA conference
Occupational therapy students tried something new this year to mark Occupational Therapy Month: a social media takeover to help educate others about their future profession during the month of April.
The takeover of the School’s Instagram and the Facebook page of the School’s Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) was designed to share information and raise awareness about occupational therapy, said students Victoria Alejandro and Allanah Gallagher, who are president and vice president of the School’s SOTA chapter, respectively.
Students visit India over spring break
When a group of UT Health San Antonio students traveled to India in March, they engaged in academic and clinical experiences during their time at the Manipal College of Health Professions—but the learning didn’t stop there.
Students travel to Mexico to learn about occupational therapy
Kate Hunger
Seven occupational therapy students traveled in March to Mérida in Yucatán, Mexico, to expand their understanding of the practice of the profession.
The trip was hosted by the founders of the only bachelor’s and master’s degree occupational therapy program in Yucatan, the Instituto Interamericano de la Salud (INTSA), said Bridgett Piernik-Yoder, Ph.D., OTR., Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy.
OT student selected as a Presidential Ambassador Scholar
First-year occupational therapy doctoral student Janna Roberts is the 2019 Presidential Ambassador Scholar for the School of Health Professions.
Roberts is one of five Presidential Ambassador Scholars to receive the award, which recognizes a future leader in each of UT Health San Antonio’s schools. In addition to receiving a $5,000 scholarship, students also may be called on to represent their schools during visits by distinguished guests or at presidential events. The Scholars received their awards at a ceremony on April 1.
OT professor receives Presidential Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching
By the time Occupational Therapy Assistant Professor Ricky Joseph, Ph.D., M.A.-H.R.M., OTR, Occupational Therapy Assistant Professor joined the School of Health Professions faculty in 2013, he had retired from the U.S. Army—twice.
OT faculty member elected to chair AESIS
Bridgette Piernik-Yoder, Ph.D., OTR, Occupational Therapy Associate Professor and Department Chair was elected this winter as chair of the Academic Education Special Interest Section (AESIS) for the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
Department of Occupational Therapy co-sponsors summit on neonatal evaluation and outcomes
The fifth annual Neonatal Evaluation and Outcomes Network (NEON) Summit was held Feb. 8 at the new Department of Occupational Therapy facility.
Caregiver skills workshops offer practical skills for taking care of loved ones with dementia
A series of multidisciplinary workshops at UT Health San Antonio trains caregivers of people with dementia on a range of skills, including how to communicate with their loved ones.
New associate dean for research values the power of collaboration
The School of Health Professions welcomes its newly appointed Timothy A. Reistetter, Ph.D., OTR, FAOTA, Associate Dean for Research.
Previously appointed professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), where he served as director of the post-doctoral certificate program in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Reistetter also is a professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy.
Department of Occupational Therapy collects glove donations to help homeless
In an effort to help homeless people in the San Antonio Area, the Department of Occupational Therapy held a glove donation drive in late November and early December.
The effort yielded 194 pairs of donated gloves which were delivered to Heaven for Hope, the city's homeless center, said Kimatha Oxford Grice, OTD, OTR, CHT, associate professor. Grice said the drive was inspired by the comments of a speaker at the annual meeting of the Texas Society for Hand Therapy about the effect of cold weather on hands.
OT students join Frontera de Salud leadership team
Two occupational therapy students are on the 2019 leadership team for the UT Health San Antonio chapter of Frontera de Salud, a student-run volunteer organization that provides health care to underserved populations in Texas.
Janna Roberts is the School of Health Professions liaison and Brianna Reyna is the McAllen service coordinator.
OT student is first from UT Health San Antonio to receive TOTA student leader award
Like a number of her classmates, third-year occupational therapy master’s student Amy Honeck has accumulated an impressive list of volunteer service and leadership positions during her time in the program.
However, her recent selection to receive the Texas Occupational Therapy Association Student Leader Award is particularly notable.
“She is the first recipient from our university, so that is very exciting,” said Associate Professor Bridgett Piernik-Yoder, Ph.D., OTR, chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy.
New OT clinical faculty is working to establish OT services for people with dementia and their caregivers at the Biggs Institute
New Department of Occupational Therapy clinical faculty member Laura Novak, OTR, is developing the new occupational therapy services program at the UT Health San Antonio Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases.
PT faculty member gives presentation on the importance of research in allied health
Sandeep Subramanian, Ph.D., MS, BPT, physical therapy assistant professor highlighted the impact of rehabilitation research in the health professions during a presentation during National Allied Health Week.
Subramanian took a creative approach in his Nov. 8 Lunch & Learn presentation by describing the kinds of treatment a soldier injured in a blast would receive. Subramanian used the scenario to show how the soldier’s care would be informed by research from across departments within the School of Health Professions.
OT Faculty Highlights
The OT faculty are engaged in many professional initiatives and endeavors. Some highlights of their accomplishments and activities this year include:
Student receives top recognition by the Texas Occupational Therapy Association
Amy Honeck, a MOTIII student, was awarded the Student Leadership Award by the Texas Occupational Therapy Association (TOTA) at the Annual TOTA Mountain Central Conference held in Sugarland, Texas on November 2 – 4, 2018. Amy’s talents, leadership abilities, and tireless advocacy to promote the profession of occupational therapy was recognized through the highest distinction awarded by TOTA to occupational therapy students.
OT faculty presented on program's demographics at national educational summit
School of Health Professions faculty and administrators gave four presentations at the American Occupational Therapy Association OT Educational Summit held in Louisville, Kentucky, on October 13-14.
One presentation shared the demographics of the School’s OT program as part of a cluster of presentations on the recruitment and retention of students.
Former San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor discusses diversity in the health professions during campus presentation
Former San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor gave a presentation on diversity in the health professions at UT Health San Antonio on October 18.
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