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Juleen Rodakowski, Associate Professor and Department Chair and Caroline Robinson Brayley Distinguished Lecture Presenter Pamela Toto, Professor

The department hosted the inaugural Pitt OT Fall Colloquium on December 13, where over 300 participants joined virtually to discuss occupational therapy best practices and implementation of evidence into real-world settings. Since 2018, the annual event has traditionally been held at the end of April. The department will now host two colloquium events each year, one in the spring (April) and one in the fall (December).  

The inaugural fall colloquium featured the Caroline Robinson Brayley Distinguished Lecture. This lecture was named after Brayley to pay tribute to the contributions she made to Pitt OT as the department’s founding chair. Pamela Toto, three-time Pitt alumna, professor and director of the Doctor of Clinical Science (CScD) in Occupational Therapy program, provided the distinguished lecture titled “Implementing New Evidence into Your Practice: Lessons from the CAPABLE Project.” Selecting Toto to give the inaugural lecture is particularly noteworthy, as she attributes her early success to the mentorship of Brayley.  

The event also provided an opportunity for the soon-to-be graduates of Pitt OT’s CScD program to share the outcomes of their capstone projects, which is an integral component of the program. During the capstone experience, students are mentored by Pitt OT faculty to identify and implement a quality improvement project in a clinical or educational setting. Their projects bring innovative ideas, methods for planning and implementing evidence-based programs and outcomes of value to clients, employers and reimbursement sources.   

CScD Student Michaella Hayden, MS, OTR/L presentation titled: Flying is For Everyone: Skills for Promoting Successful Air Travel for Persons with Physical Disability and CScD Student Donna Anderson, MS, OTR/L presentation titled: Occupational and Physical Therapy Best Practice Collaboration Group

CScD student Kelsey Watters, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, CBIS presentation titled: It Starts with a Cue: Using Effective Cueing in Strategies to Optimize Client Outcomes and CScD student Erica Van Eck, MS, OTR/L presentation titled: Engaging Stakeholders to Design an Inclusive Playground: A Quality Improvement Project

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Published on February 6, 2023