Pitt OT at AOTA 2024

Each year, Pitt Occupational Therapy (OT) alumni, students, and faculty make a significant impact at the AOTA annual conference and expo. If you’re heading to Orlando, Florida, explore this page to learn how you can connect with the Pitt OT network!

Pitt OT Exhibit Booth

Visit us at booth #1253 to say hello and chat with Pitt OT faculty. We’d love to see you!

Exhibit hours are as follows:

Date	Time
Thursday, March 21, 2024	12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday, March 22, 2024	10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 23, 2024	9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Pitt OT Alumni and Friends Reception

Pitt OT will host a reception for alumni, students, faculty, and friends in conjunction with the 2023 AOTA Conference and Expo.

Thursday, March 21, 2024
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. EST
The Pub Pointe Orlando
9101 International Dr., Orlando, FL 32819

For questions, contact Senior Alumni Associate Maddy Dix at madelinedix@pitt.edu.

Pitt OT Posters and Presentations

Experience the breadth and depth of scholarship from our alumni, students and faculty. Below are the highlighted sessions that feature Pitt OT.

Thursday, March 21

Identify, Schedule, Perform, Assess, Reward, Keep going (ISPARK): Implementation of Behavioral Activation in an Outpatient Psychiatric Setting | Poster

3 - 5 p.m | OCCC West Hall B1
Primary Speaker: Samantha Tremblay (OTD '23)
Additional Speakers: Madalyn Kopmanis (OTD '23), Abigail Webb (OTD '23), Lydia Ott (OTD '23)
Contributing Author: Joanne Baird

Strategy Training Intervention Fidelity Among OTs: Adequacy & Competence of Intervention Delivery | Poster

3 - 5 p.m | OCCC West Hall B1
Primary Speaker: Avital Isenberg
Additional Speaker: Juleen Rodakowski
Contributing Author: Josh Woolford

Approaches to Stroke Prevention in African Americans: A Scoping Review | Poster

3 - 5 p.m | OCCC West Hall B1
Primary Speaker: Farida Gayle (CScD '25)
Additional Speaker: Joanne Baird

Friday, March 22

Promoting Collaboration Through Knowledge and Strategy Toolkit Implementation: A School-based Quality Improvement Project | Poster

9 -11 a.m. | OCCC West Hall B1
Primary speaker: Marilyn Bader (CScD '23)
Contributing Authors: Ketki Raina

Community Aging in Place, Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE): Who Benefits the Most from an Aging in Place Program? | Poster

9 – 11 a.m. | OCCC West Hall B1
Primary Speaker: Ava Giatras (OTD '25)
Additional Speaker: Pamela Toto, Kayla Valente (OTD '24)
Contributing Author: Beth Fields

Presidential Address: Different but Same (General Session)

11:30 – 12:15 p.m | OCCC West Halls A1-A2
Primary Speaker: Alyson Stover

12:30 – 2:30 p.m. | OCCC West Hall B1
Primary Speaker: Leah Fisk (OTD '23)
Contributing Author: Joanne Baird, Annie Montefiori (OTD '23), Madison Howlett (OTD '23)

Improving Health Equity for Children Who Are Multiply Marginalized: A Narrative Review of Intersectional Interventions | Poster

12:30 – 2:30 p.m. | OCCC West Hall B1
Primary Speaker: Christie Cyktor (OTD '24)
Contributing Author: Amy Houtrow, Jessica Jarvis, Ateth Fonteh, Helina Mengesha

The Re-design of Level I Fieldwork to Meet the Clinical Challenges of Today | Poster

12:30 – 2:30 p.m. | OCCC West Hall B1
Primary Speaker: Ann Marsico
Contributing Authors: Cara Lekovitch, Ketki Raina

The Use of Mental Practice to Reduce Severe Upper Extremity Hemiparesis: A Pilot Study | Poster

12:30 – 2:30 p.m. | OCCC West Hall B1
Primary Speaker: Teresa M. Green
Additional Speaker: Farida Gayle (CScD '25)
Contributing Authors: Asha Vas

The Role of OT in the Treatment of Grief & Chronic Pain | Poster

12:30 – 2:30 p.m. | OCCC West Hall B1
Primary Speaker: Michaela Tarallo (OTD '24)

Impact of COVID-19 on School-Based Occupational Therapists: Lessons Learned | Poster

12:30 – 2:30 p.m. | OCCC West Hall B1
Primary Speaker: Amanda Ciccone (OTD '25)
Contributing Authors: Denise Chisholm, Ketki Raina, Michele Nobel

An Enrichment Model for Simulation Education: Near-Peer Facilitation | Poster

3 – 5 p.m. | OCCC West Hall B1
Primary Speaker: Joanne Baird
Additional Speaker: Ketki Raina

Sensory Processing & Sleep in Children with Down Syndrome: A Secondary Analysis | Poster
3 – 5 p.m | OCCC West Hall B1
Primary Speaker: Waad Eid (MS '22)
Additional Speaker: Angela Caldwell

Mission Impossible: Teaching Critical Workplace Behaviors to Occupational Therapy Students | Poster

3 – 5 p.m | OCCC West Hall B1
Primary Speaker: Ann Marsico
Additional Speaker: Cara Lekovitch, Ketki Raina

Saturday, March 23

Healthy Home Lab: An Innovative, Interprofessional Community-Based Initiative to Build Tech-Enabled Solutions for Aging in Place | Course

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. | OCCC Room W103

Primary Speaker: Pamela Toto

Evidence-Informed OT Interventions for Long COVID: Strategies for Successful Implementation | Workshop
8 – 11 a.m. | OCCC Room W203

Primary Speaker: Sarah Punshon (CScD '23)

Contributing Author: Juleen Rodakowski

Continued Development of the WeePASS: An Occupation-Based & Performance-Based Pediatric Assessment | Poster

9 – 11 a.m. | OCC West Hall B1

Primary Speaker: Tiffany Duong (OTD '23)

Additional Speaker: Laura Fahs (OTD '23), Marissa Meissner (OTD '23), Amanda Dunbar (OTD '23), Zachary Platto (OTD '23)

Contributing Author: Denise Chisholm

Healthy Home Laboratory: Community-Generated Solutions for Aging in Place | Tech Lab

10a.m. | OCCC Room W222

Primary Speaker: Pamela Toto

Additional Speaker: Ava Giatras (OTD '25), Kayla Valente (OTD '24)

High-Intensity Training: Utilizing Knowledge Translation for an Emerging Area of Practice for OT | Poster

12:45 – 2:45 a.m. | OCC West Hall B1

Primary Speaker: Elaine M. Brown-Porter (CScD '26)

Additional Speaker: Megan Essman

Contributing Authors: Jennifer Vance, Neepa Shah

Relationship Between Postural Control & Community Participation in Autistic Adults | Poster

12:45 – 2:45 a.m. | OCC West Hall B1

Primary Speaker: Kelsey Voltz-Poremba

Additional Speaker: Juleen Rodakowski

Contributing Authors: Jana Iverson, Rakié Cham

Assistive & Rehabilitative Effects of the Playskin LIFT Exoskeletal Garment on Reaching & Object Exploration in Children With Arthrogryposis | Poster

12:45 – 2:45 a.m. | OCC West Hall B1

Primary Speaker: Christie Cyktor (OTD '24)

Contributing Author: Kelsey Voltz-Poremba

AOTA Exam Prep Knowledge Quest |Special Event

3 – 4:30 p.m | Rosen Centre, Rosen Salon 10
Pitt OT Team: Ava Giatras(OTD '25), Kayla Valente (OTD '24), Nikki D'Agostino (OTD'25), Lauren Danko (OTD '24)

Empowering Patients with Chronic Pain: OT Behavior Change

3:00 p.m. | OCCC West Hall B1

Primary Speaker: Sarah McKendry (OTD '22)

Contributing Author: Juleen Rodakowski

Build It Better: Applying Health Design Thinking & the OTPF–4 to Create Meaningful Intervention Materials | Course

3 – 4 p.m. | OCCC Room W303

Primary Speaker: James Dunn (OTD '24)

Contributing author: Denise Chisholm

Inclusivity in Client Interviewing: Teaching Students to Relate Beyond Their Lived Experiences | Poster

3 - 5 p.m. | OCC West Hall B1

Primary Speaker: Tana Pierro (OTD '24)

Additional Speaker: Rachel Titus (OTD '24), Christie Cyktor (OTD '24), Ana Dolan (OTD '24)