Ithaca College

The Ithaca College Department of Occupational Therapy had a memorable weekend at the 2014 American Occupational Therapy Association Conference in early April.

More than 30 members of the IC OT program past and present contributed to 12 presentations (full list below); faculty members received multiple honors; and alumni showcased products. 

Associate Professor Lynn Gitlow was named a fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association. This honor is given to occupational therapists who, with their knowledge and expertise, have made significant contributions to continuing education and the professional development of other members of the AOTA.

Assistant Professor Julie Dorsey was given a Service Commendation for her contribution to the Work and Industry Special Interest Section. Dorsey served as the Professional Development Coordinator of forums, and was announced as the incoming chair of the Special Interest Section (three-year term) starting July 2014.

IC alum Simon Carson was a vendor at the conference, displaying an iPad-based Standardized Touchscreen Assessment of Cognition with a Speech Pathologist application, which he co-developed.

Ithaca College produced presentations:

• It’s Easy Being Green: Occupational Therapy’s Unique Potential to Contribute to the Sustainability Movement (Poster)
  Content Focus: Health & Wellness
  Produced by Julie Dorsey, OTD, OTR/L, CEAS; Erin Arias, OT; Laina Karosic, OT; Megan Marrapese, OT; Emily Rand, OT; Hope Rideout, OT; Melissa Stutzbach, OT; Marie Swanson, OT; Kate Word, OT; Seth Werlin, OT, all of Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
   
• Second Grade Student’s Scores on the Evaluation Tool of Children’s Handwriting-Manuscript (poster)
  Content Focus: Children and Youth
  Produced by Diane Long, EdD, MOTR/L; Kaela Banashefski; Karina Fink; Bailey Fuller; Sarah Grebert; Amanda Hart; Briana Mueller; Samantha Stern, all of Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
  Contributing Author: James Conklin, PhD
   
• The Holistic Adjustment: Preventive Mental Health Group Therapy for Newly-Resettled Refugees (Poster)
  Content Focus: Mental Health
  Produced by Lauren Botterbusch, OTR/L, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
  Contributing Author: Amy Greensfelder
   
• Occupational Therapy and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) From an Alternative Perspective (Poster)
  Content Focus: Health & Wellness
  Produced by Michelle Bradshaw, DC, OTR/L, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
   
• A Model of Interprofessional Education & Practice: The Center for Life Skills (Poster)
  Content Focus: Academic & Fieldwork
  Produced by Melinda Cozzolino, OTD, OTR/L, CRC, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
  Contributing author: Catherine Gooch
   
• Promoting Sustainable Practice in Occupational Therapy (Poster)
  Content Focus: General Professional Issues
  Produced by Carole Dennis, ScD, OT/L, FAOTA; Julie Dorsey, OTD, OTR/L, CEAS; Lynn Gitlow, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, all of Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
   
• Outcomes of Robotic Mobility Experience: Comparing Control Interfaces (Poster)
  Content Focus: Children & Youth
  Produced by Kimberly Wilkinson, PhD, OTR/L; Carole Dennis, ScD, OT/L, FAOTA, Maria Barton, BS; Brittany Blacker, MS, OTR, of Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
  Contributing Authors; JulieAnne Butare, MS; Erinn Jacobi, MS; Shari Kaplan, MS ; Sharon A. Stansfield, PhD; Helene M. Larin, PhD, PT
   
• Get Your Babies Moving! The Importance of Early Motor Exploration for Infant Occupational Development (Poster)
  Content Focus: Children & Youth
  Produced by Carole Dennis, ScD, OT/L, FAOTA; Kimberly Wilkinson, PhD, OTR/L; Jamie Edelson, BS;, Macy Sutton, MS, OTR, of Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
  Contributing Authors: Eva Caldera, Roseanne Herlihy, Kaci Hoey
   
• Functional and Psychosocial Outcomes of OT/AT Intervention Using a Mounting Device (Poster)
  Content Focus: Rehabilitation, Disability, & Participation
  Produced by Lynn Gitlow, PhD, OTR/L, ATP; Adam Kinney, both of Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
   
• Promoting Use of Cognitive Strategies in Functional Tasks: Multicontext Approach in an Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting (Poster)
  Content Focus: Rehabilitation, Disability, & Participation
  Produced by Alyson Lee, MS, OTR/L, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY; Joan Toglia, Mercy College School of Health & Natural Sciences, Dobbs Ferry, NY
   
• Using Rigid Splinting to Treat Spasticity: A Survey of Occupational Therapy Practitioners (Poster)
  Content Focus: Rehabilitation, Disability, & Participation
  Produced by Kaia Wiley, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
  Contributing Author: Melinda Cozzolino
   
• Using Qualitative Research to Inform Clinical Practice with Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders (Poster)
  Content Focus: Children & Youth
  Produced by Kimberly Wilkinson, PhD, OTR/L: Sandra Latts, OTS, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY