I was lucky enough to discover the world of occupational therapy in high-school and have loved the field ever since.
Teaching: Here at Ithaca College, I primarily teach classes related to research and pediatric practice. I use a combination of lecture, simulations, and active learning strategies to help students engage with the material and develop into great OT clinicians. In some of my classes we get to bring in children and families so students can practice interacting with them and work on developing their clinical skills. You can click here: Teaching Examples to get a feel for what some of my classes entail.
Research: I work in concert with my students to add to the evidence base related to pediatric OT practice. The wholistic nature of OT that includes a mix of hard and soft sciences along with the clinical expertise I've developed over the years has informed my focus on the benefits of free play for children's development. Our current cultural norms suppress opportunities for young children to play freely both indoors and out. My current research is focused on exploring how children's outdoor play can be understood through an occupational therapy lens and advocating for play opportunities that are accessible to all children. You can click here: Scholarship Examples if you'd like to know more.