College
- College of Rehabilitation Sciences
Degree Earned
- Doctorate
Program Length
Variable
Program Type
- Online
Leadership
- Program Director, Post-Professional OTD Program
- Professor
2023 News
Congratulations to Dr. Susan Persia (Class of 2022)
Congratulations to Dr. Susan Persia (Class of 2022) for her recent publication of her article titled, Feasibility of Mindfulness at Work: A Continuing Education Program for Occupational Therapy Practitioners Experiencing Burnout.
Congratulations to Dr. Jessica Perchaluk (Class of 2023)
Congratulations to Dr. Perchuluk for being awarded the 2023 Fieldwork Educator of the Year Award. Dr. Perchaluk's work involves optimizing the referral decision-making process for patients diagnosed with breast cancer. She discusses opportunities to optimize the referral process in her PPOTD Capstone Presentation.
Dr. Wan Albert (Class of 2019)
Congratulations to Dr. Wan Albert (Class of 2019) for her recent publication of her article titled, Feasibility of a Treatment Protocol for Parkinson’s Fatigue
Management Using a Cognitive Behavioral Approach. This work was based on her doctoral capstone project completed under the mentoring of Dr. Alison Bell.
Alumni AJOT Publication: “Leadership Development of Women of Color in Occupational Therapy: A Qualitative Intersectional Analysis"
Jefferson’s PPOTD Alumni Ushentha Nirmul (’22), Pamela Talero Cabrejo (’13), and Cristina Reyes-Smith (’10) groundbreaking publication in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy- AJOT is now available in open-access. The journal also invited them to the AJOT’s Authors and Issues podcast, where they share some insights about their research.
The publication “Leadership Development of Women of Color in Occupational Therapy: A Qualitative Intersectional Analysis” resulted from Dr. Nirmul’s doctoral capstone project under Dr. Talero Cabrejo’s faculty mentorship and Dr. Reyes Smith’s content expertise. The study explores which intersecting patterns of social identity categories have shaped the leadership development of women of color leaders in occupational therapy in the United States and how they do so.
Dr. Dana Tavares, OTD, OTR/L
(Class of 2023)
Congratulations to Dr. Dana Tavares (Jefferson PPOTD Class of 2023) for her presentation at the 2023 AOTA Adult Rehabilitation Specialty Conference. Dr. Tavares presented about Knowledge Translation to Promote Evidence-Based Practice, an outshoot of her doctoral work.
Dr. Paulette O’Hara OTD, OTR/L, HTC, SWC, CKTP
(Class of 2022)
Dr. Paulette O’Hara is a PP-OTD program Class of 2022 graduate and an occupational therapist with over 25 years of experience working with children and adults with neurological or neuromuscular disorders. Her doctoral work, Early detection of neurodevelopmental disorders in paediatric primary care: A scoping review, is deeply tied to her personal experience as a parent of children with neurological-related issues and was recently published in the Oxford Academic's Family Practice Journal. Dr. O'Hara currently works as a staff occupational therapist for the Los Angeles Department of Public Health in the California Children's Services outpatient program for children from birth to 21 years of age with eligible neuromuscular disorders.
Dr. Amy Lorino, OTD, MS, OTR/L (Class of 2023)
Congratulations to Dr. Amy Lorino, OTD, MS, OTR/L and her co-authors for the recent publication of her doctoral project in an article titled Occupational Experiences of Medication Management Among Adults Living with Multiple Chronic Conditions. Dr. Lorino is a Jefferson PP-OTD program Class of 2023 graduate and an experienced clinician, educator, and manager of rehabilitation services. With experience in mental health and physical rehabilitation, she has led interprofessional rehabilitation teams, expanded outpatient services, and developed interprofessional programs.
2023 American Occupational Therapy Associate Distinguished Educator Award
Dr. Gorenberg, MS, OTD, OTR/L is a Jefferson PP-OTD program Class of 2012 graduate and former faculty member at Philadelphia University (now Thomas Jefferson University). She received the 2023 American Occupational Therapy Associate Distinguished Educator Award given each year by the AOTA in recognition of her significant contributions to the profession of occupational therapy.
2023 Thomas Jefferson University Award for Outstanding Teaching
Amy Carroll, OTD, OTR/L, received the 2023 Award for Outstanding Teaching. This award recognizes a Thomas Jefferson University faculty member who has contributed significantly to enhancing student learning and the student experience, and has facilitated the development of pedagogical excellence in their peers through their example. The impact is broad as they are recognized for facilitating a culture of excellence in teaching at Jefferson by students, peers, and administration. This award speaks to Dr. Carroll's commitment to quality and engaging instructional methods.