Creating Tomorrow's Practice: Occupational Therapy at UIC

Creating Tomorrow’s Practice

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Occupational Therapy at the University of Illinois at Chicago

Creating Tomorrow’s Practice

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Leading the Field in Education, Scholarship and Practice

“

When people ask why I’m proud to be dean of the UIC College of Applied

Health Sciences, my answer always includes, within a few sentences, the fact that we’re the home of the university’s internationally esteemed occupational therapy program—the highest-ranked academic discipline at UIC. The teaching, research and practice housed in the Department of Occupational Therapy is innovative, consequential and enduring. I can’t think of any academic endeavor creating more value for the world than this.

”

— Bo Fernhall, Dean, UIC College of Applied Health Sciences

CORE FACULTY

Theresa Carroll, OTD, OTR/L Clinical Assistant Professor

Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar, PhD Professor and Head

Heidi Fischer, MS, OTR/L Clinical Instructor

Joy Hammel, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA Professor and Wade/Meyer Endowed Chair, Director of Doctoral Studies

Catherine Killian, MEd, OTR/L Clinical Instructor, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator

Elizabeth Peterson, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA Clinical Professor, Director of Professional Education

Sandy Magaña, PhD Professor

Gail Fisher, MPA, OTR/L, FAOTA Clinical Associate Professor, Associate Head for Administration

Jenica Lee, OTD, OTR/L Clinical Assistant Professor

Susan Magasi, PhD Assistant Professor Mansha Mirza, PhD, OTR/L, MS HSOR Assistant Professor

IIwww.ahs.uic.edu/ot

Kathy Preissner, EdD, OTR/L Clinical Associate Professor, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator Ashley Stoffel, OTD, OTR/L Clinical Assistant Professor Renee Taylor, PhD Professor and UIC’s Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

ADJUNCT FACULTY Glen Cotton, OTD, OTR/L Celeste Januszewski, OTR/L Kay McGee, MS, OTR/L Kimberly Muir, MS, OTR/L

ACADEMIC STAFF Mary Berta Departmental Business Manager Genya Harley Assistant to the Head Maria Larson Academic Coordinator

S

ince 1943, the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Illinois at Chicago has been integrating research, education and clinical practice in service to one vision: Creating Tomorrow’s Practice. We are shaping the profession though our engagement in Scholarship of Practice; our commitment to excellent education for the leaders and practitioners of tomorrow; our service in leading the profession; our engagement in international initiatives; and our community partnerships through which we enhance the lives of people with disabilities and chronic health conditions.

UIC occupational therapy faculty, students and alumni are innovative professionals who transform the health and quality of life of individuals from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds and global communities.

Our work enables capacity-building, occupational opportunities and participation in society.

We present here a collection of stories and accomplishments to showcase who we are now, as we embark on our next 70 years of excellence.

Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar Professor and Occupational Therapy Department Head

U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT RANKS OUR MS PROGRAM FOURTH AMONG ALL U.S. UNIVERSITIES AND FIRST AMONG PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES 1

Scholarship of Practice

Our department is widely recognized for contributions to advancing knowledge in occupational therapy and related fields.

Our research is framed within a Scholarship of Practice model in which scholarship advances practice and practice informs scholarship. Here are examples of our faculty’s recent work at the intersection of research and everyday realities.

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SCHOL ARSHIP OF PR ACTICE

AOTF Research Award Sandy Magaña, Mansha Mirza and Ashley Stoffel received a research grant from the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) to develop, implement and evaluate a family-directed intervention for Latino immigrant families raising preschool-age children with autism spectrum disorders. The pilot intervention will pair occupational therapists and community health workers to assist Latino families in (a) assessing the participation needs of their children with ASD, and (b) identifying and addressing environmental barriers and facilitators to promote their child’s participation in meaningful activities.

Immigrant Health

Healthcare Access

Mansha Mirza is working to reduce health

Susan Magasi engages in collaborative

and disability disparities affecting under-

research with the disability community

served refugees and immigrants in the U.S.

to understand root causes of healthcare

In her project comparing social participa-

access, quality and outcome disparities

tion determinants and outcomes for low-income children,

among people with disabilities and to then develop com-

she learned that immigrant families fare worse than native

munity-driven strategies for improvement. Magasi and

families on important predictors of social participation such

her team have a grant from the American Cancer Society

as insurance coverage for the child and parental educa-

to investigate individual and environmental barriers women

tion. In another study, she is analyzing the involvement of

with disabilities face accessing breast and cervical cancer

language interpreters in mental health care for non-English

screening. Magasi is a co-investigator on major NIH and

speaking refugees; findings will inform training and practice

NIDRR-funded measurement initiatives, including the

guidelines for healthcare providers and interpreters.

National Children’s Study, NIH Toolbox and PROMIS.

Obesity Prevention

Assessing Group Homes

Obesity rates are higher in youth and young

Gail Fisher and her master’s students

adults with disabilities than in those without

created the Residential Environment

disabilities, in part because individuals with

Impact Scale (REIS) to help group homes

disabilities tend to engage in more seden-

better support the self-determination and

tary activities and be excluded from physical activity and

independence of residents with intellectual disabilities.

community programs. Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar is contrib-

Using the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) frame-

uting to a national study funded by NIDRR that is adapting

work, the REIS evaluates a group home’s space, everyday

the CDC’s 24 obesity-prevention strategies to apply to

objects, activities and enabling relationships in terms of

youth and young adults with disabilities, especially Latinos

whether they support or interfere with the residents’

and African Americans. Once the inclusion guidelines are

quality of life. The REIS has been validated through a

finalized, they will be disseminated by the CDC and tested

recent research study in the U.K. and is being translated

in local communities.

into seven languages by international colleagues.

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JOY HAMMEL

Professor Inducted to AOTF Academy of Research

Professor Joy Hammel, PhD, Wade/Meyer Endowed Chair and director of the occupational therapy doctoral program, was inducted into the American Occupational Therapy Foundation Academy of Research at the AOTA Annual Conference. This is the highest scholarly honor conferred by AOTF and one of the highest honors in the profession.

In her scholarship, Hammel focuses on research to: (1) identify key environmental barriers and supports for least-

Here are just two examples of projects Hammel is helping to lead:

restrictive community living and full societal participation of

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The Americans with Disabilities Act-Participation Action

people with long-term disabilities and chronic conditions;

Research Consortium (ADA-PARC) federal grant project is

(2) create and test new consumer-directed and patient-

examining key disparities in home, community and work/

centered instruments to assess participation in context;

economic participation across 36 states, helping a national

and (3) conduct participation-focused intervention research

consortium of stakeholders and policymakers to identify and

to effect systems change, act on policy issues, and build

address these disparities across national, state and city levels.

community capacity.

•

The Increasing Participation after Stroke Self-Management program (IPASS) federal grant project is evaluating the impact of a novel self-management and occupational therapy program on participation outcomes for stroke survivors in a multisite trial in Chicago and St. Louis.

Hammel collaborates with community organizations and programs to advocate for systems change to protect the rights of people with disabilities. In recognition of these efforts, she and colleague Robin Jones, MPA, COTA/L, ROH, director of the Great Lakes ADA Center at UIC, were awarded the AOTA Terry Brittel OTA/OT Partnership Award.

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SCHOL ARSHIP OF PR ACTICE

Fall Prevention

Multiple Sclerosis Education

Falls are caused by diverse, interacting risk

For over 10 years, Kathy Preissner has

factors, making fall prevention a challenge.

been involved in developing, implementing

Elizabeth Peterson has been engaged in

and evaluating education programs for

innovative fall-prevention research for more

people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and

than 20 years, leading to the development of assessment

their caregivers. Her work has provided important evidence

and intervention resources used worldwide to support

in the use of group-based occupational therapy interven-

older adults in their efforts to stay on their feet. Peterson

tions for these populations. Recently, she conducted a

is a member of two international research initiatives to

study to explore the learning process of people with MS

bring evidence-based fall prevention strategies to people

in a group-based fatigue-management program. Preissner

with multiple sclerosis.

is the author of AOTA’s “Practice Guidelines for Adults with Neurodegenerative Diseases.”

Stroke Rehabilitation Heidi Fischer is working with occupational

Work Skills Assessment

therapy researchers and engineers in the

The Assessment of Work Performance

Hand Rehabilitation Lab at the Rehabili-

(AWP), developed in 2006 by Linköping

tation Institute of Chicago to develop new

University’s Jan Sandqvist, PhD, is a

techniques and devices that facilitate functional use of the

MOHO-based observation tool widely used

hand after stroke. Their research looks at neural mecha-

by Swedish therapists to assess individual work functioning

nisms that control the hand and specific sources of hand

and guide occupational therapy interventions to increase

impairment common after stroke. Fischer and her col-

work readiness and return-to-work. Jenica Lee collabo-

leagues are using this information to develop rehabilitation

rated with Sandqvist to develop the English-version of the

devices, virtual technology and a task-oriented therapy

AWP and training materials. The English version is used by

protocol to improve recovery of hand function.

therapists in English-speaking countries worldwide.

Transition Services

Chronic Fatigue

Young adults with significant disabilities are

Renee Taylor’s large-scale, NIH-funded

much less likely to be employed, enrolled

study of infectious mononucleosis (mono)

in postsecondary education, living inde-

in adolescents examined the causes and

pendently or engaged in community activi-

extent of long-term fatigue and disabili-

ties. Theresa Carroll is working to identify best practices

ty following acute infection. Her work revealed that six,

for occupational therapists to support successful transitions

12 and 24 months after having mono, 13%, 7% and 4%,

to adulthood. She consults and collaborates with school

respectively, of adolescents met criteria for chronic fatigue

districts and community organizations to improve school-

syndrome. As a result, these teens perceive themselves as

based transition services; to encourage school-based

having lower competence in school performance and every-

occupational therapists to become advocates; and to link

day activities. Taylor’s findings support early identification

services across schools and community organizations.

and treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents.

OT in Primary Care

Family-Centered Interventions

Catherine Killian is studying the role of

Ashley Stoffel works to promote family-

occupational therapy in the primary care

centered services to young children and

practice setting, as well as patient mobility/

families in diverse Early Intervention and

handling and healthcare leadership. These

community settings. She is actively engaged

interests are driven by her clinical experience in hospital,

at the local, state and national level in Early Intervention

skilled nursing and home-health settings, as well as by

and Early Childhood workgroups, resource development

her roles in therapy management at several large health-

and presentations.

care organizations.

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Leading the Profession

PhD students Danbi Lee and Jenna Heffron at the Summit

Gail Fisher is chair of the American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee, of which she has been a board member since 2009.

In collaboration with three other top programs in the U.S., the UIC Department of Occupational Therapy launched the annual Occupational Therapy Summit of Scholars.

As part of her role with the committee, Fisher takes

The second occupational therapy summit was held at

students to Washington, D.C., for AOTA’s Capitol Hill

UIC in 2013. More than 100 scholars took part in the

Day each fall. There they meet with elected officials

intellectual and scientific forum to share current projects,

and/or their representatives, to educate them about

discuss future research, develop collaborations, and forge

how legislation affects occupational therapy services.

links between junior- and senior-level scholars. Yolanda

As an example of the experience they have there,

Suarez-Balcazar and Joy Hammel represent the depart-

during one visit they met with staff of Sen. Mark Kirk

ment on the organizing committee (below). The summit

(R-Ill.) about a bill to expand funding for rehabilitation

is just one example of our faculty’s deep commitment to

research. Fisher and her students’ efforts resulted in

advancing the profession of occupational therapy.

securing an additional co-sponsor for a bill to extend the exception process for Medicare recipients affected by the outpatient therapy cap.

Fisher also presents to practitioners and students around the country about the implications of the Affordable Care Act and how to best prepare for the changing healthcare system.

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Our Accomplished Clinicians

Kavitha Krishnan working with patient on balance swing

Kay McGee leads the Adult Physical Disabilities team

Our clinicians at the University of Illinois Hospital are critical contributors to the high achievement for which we are known. By sharing their expertise in classroom and lab settings, their participation in our educational programs creates a robust learning community for our students—one that involves close collaboration among faculty, practitioners and community partners.

For example, MS student Virginia Chu collaborated

for the experience. Students not only selected the script;

with clinician and OTD student Kavitha Krishnan on a

they also designed and created all set materials and

significant research project: “Assessments for quantifying

costumes using few materials and their creativity.

proprioceptive deficits in children with sensory processing

The University of Illinois Hospital is implementing the

disorder.” They presented early findings of their study at

Affordable Care Act’s priorities by teaching patients self-

the third Summit of Scholars in Philadelphia.

management of chronic conditions. Using the Stanford

Our students also benefit from observing our clinicians’

University Chronic Disease Self-Management Program,

leadership. Two such exemplars are Sarah Skinner and

occupational therapists Kay McGee, Cathleen Jensen

Anna Blazevic, who are part of the behavioral health team.

and Carson Mumma of the adult physical disabilities

For many years, Skinner has co-chaired the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association Mental Health Evidence-Based Practice workgroup, which identifies

team lead self-management workshops for patients, employees and community members.

Additional occupational therapy team members and

topics and speakers related to mental health to promote

a former patient recently completed a UIC-sponsored

the role of occupational therapists in that arena of care.

training program for facilitators to allow outreach to new

Blazevic collaborated with Chicago Public Schools

populations. The inpatient physical disabilities team is

teacher Barbara Lea and adolescent inpatients to put

consulting with other medical services throughout the

on a play in the hospital. It was a first for the unit and

hospital regarding multidisciplinary self-management

for many of the students, who received school credit

collaboration to improve quality patient care.

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The Educational Experience

Our academic programs are among the strongest in the nation.

They prepare students to be critical thinkers, compassionate practitioners, confident leaders and scholars who contribute new knowledge to occupational therapy and related fields. Our faculty pride themselves on providing students across all degree programs with a warm and friendly environment. Located in the heart of Chicago, UIC offers students easy access to a city abounding with opportunities for learning, working and playing.

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The MS Program UIC provides an enriched learning environment for students studying in our master’s program. The small class size gives students front-row access to abundant faculty expertise, and four fieldwork courses in more than 80 locations develop students’ skills in various clinical, community and educational settings. Graduates leave the program maximally qualified to integrate theory, research, and practice, and deliver ethical and culturally competent services in a wide variety of settings.

“

My classmates and I take care of one another like a family, and the faculty members go above and beyond.

— Jandra Hernando, MS Student

”

99% 98% 70%

of our recently enrolled MS STUDENTS graduated from the program. of our recent MS GRADUATES passed the NBCOT Certification Exam on their first attempt. of ALL STUDENTS receive scholarships or travel awards to attend professional conferences.

The OTD Program

The PhD Programs

Our Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree offers

Two PhD programs prepare students to lead in research

opportunities for career development and advancement

and academic careers. Our students can pursue a PhD

in specialized areas of practice. UIC OTD students excel

in Disability Studies, which emphasizes understanding

at applying existing research and evidence to improve

disability from the perspective of people with disabilities,

everyday practice. Having been immersed in the Scholar-

or a PhD in Rehabilitation Science, which emphasizes

ship of Practice and engaged in mentoring relationships

theory and research concerning performance and parti-

with faculty members, our OTD graduates are well pre-

cipation. Our PhD students have the close mentorship

pared to take on leadership roles in academia and practice

of faculty actively involved in research. Students create

settings. A most unique opportunity afforded to our OTD

new knowledge which furthers understanding of health,

students is the choice to participate in an international

disability, participation and well-being.

placement at Center Ann Sullivan of Peru.

“

The faculty’s doors are always open, and I feel comfortable talking to any of them about my project and goals.

”

“

The Disability Studies [PhD] program has opened my eyes to things I’ve never considered.

— Lisa Mahaffey, PhD Student

”

— Leah Dunleavy, OTD Graduate

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Partnerships in Action

Community partnerships play a critical role in the education we offer to students. Students join our community partners in addressing the needs of diverse and underserved populations in Chicago. International partnerships provide unique scholarship opportunities for OTD and PhD students.

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El Valor

Center Ann Sullivan of Peru

Located in the nearby Pilsen

Since 2008 the department has had an international

neighborhood, El Valor provides

exchange with the Center Ann Sullivan of Peru in

an array of services to individ-

Lima. CASP is a globally recognized hub of commu-

uals with disabilities across the

nity-based research and teaching for individuals with

life span. Over the last 20 years,

different abilities. Participating OTD students spend

our faculty and students have

one month in this

partnered with El Valor in a variety

cultural immersion

of areas. Many OTD and PhD

experience, providing

students have completed their doctoral project or disserta-

services to children

tion to address some of El Valor’s unmet needs in serving

and families, engaging

culturally diverse adults with intellectual disabilities.

in CASP’s familyempowerment model,

Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago

and learning about its very successful

Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago makes its mission to provide services that “maximize independence and create opportunities for people with disabilities…to live, learn, work and play in their communities.” The UIC occupational therapy department partners with the agency to offer our students hands-on learning experiences in its Therapeutic School and Center for Autism Research. Further, the Easter Seals occupational therapy staff deliver guest lectures

employment program.

This international exchange has also expanded to include faculty and even the community: Recently staff, a participant and a family member from CASP came to Chicago, while staff from our local partner El Valor traveled to Lima.

in the MS program and serve as mentors for a variety

Sweden’s Top OT Programs

of student-learning activities. Our partnership provides

The occupational therapy department has enjoyed

MS and OTD students the opportunity to observe evi-

a long-lasting collaboration with the Karolinska

dence-based practices for students with autism; to partic-

Institute (KI) in Stockholm and Linköping University

ipate in highest-quality fieldwork; and to explore potential

in Norkköping, Sweden. Colleagues from the KI

opportunities for OTD project and practicum experiences.

attended the Occupational Therapy Summit of Scholars at UIC and colleagues from Linköping

Access Living The UIC occupational therapy department has a long-standing relationship with Access Living, an internationally respected Center for Independent Living located in Chicago. Faculty members

visited the department to establish new research collaborations. Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar was invited to the KI to participate in the Global Bridges Scholars program, in which she was paired with two postdoctoral scholars working on community-based research projects, and she presented on cultural competence in health professions.

Joy Hammel, Susan Magasi and Mansha Mirza are part-

Global Network to Prevent MS Falls

nering with the organization on multiple research projects

Elizabeth Peterson is among the leading-edge

related to advocacy that supports choice and control by

researchers participating in the International MS

people with disabilities. Access Living is also collaborat-

Fall Prevention Research Network which is com-

ing with several students who are working on dissertation

posed of preeminent researchers from the U.S.,

research for their doctorates in disability studies. Tom

Canada, Ireland, Italy and Sweden. This network is

Wilson, Access Living’s community development organizer

developing joint research proposals to reduce the

for healthcare, has helped to co-teach a doctoral course,

frequency and severity of falls experienced by people

“Participatory Action Research and Disability Policy.”

with multiple sclerosis.

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Embracing Diversity

Aligned with the mission of the university and the college, our department embraces diversity in our teaching, research and service endeavors.

Fieldwork in Underserved Communities

Urban Allied Health Academy

As of 2014, all MS students complete a Level I fieldwork

Preparing students to work with diverse populations is

experience at a community site serving underserved

integral to the UIC occupational therapy curriculum for

populations. Under faculty supervision, students plan and

every student, but some students desire more. Our

lead group activities at one of five sites serving formerly

college provides an option for students to become fellows

incarcerated adults, women with chronic mental illness,

of its interdisciplinary, extracurricular Urban Allied Health

women and children in transitional living due to domestic

Academy. Fellows complete 45 hours of service-learning

violence, adults with brain injury, or children at risk for

at a site serving a diverse and underserved population—

developmental delays. Our location in Chicago gives

such as the Mary Crane Child Development Center and

our students unique opportunities to learn and grow by

Gigi’s Playhouse—and also participate in book groups,

providing services to populations who otherwise might

current-event discussions, special lectures and more to

never receive them.

examine all aspects of diversity, discrimination, cultural competence and health disparities.

Diversity-Infused Curriculum To prepare students to deliver occupational therapy ser-

Diversity and the Workforce

vices to diverse and multicultural populations, issues of

Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar chaired an AOTA committee

diversity and training in cultural competence are infused

charged with developing recommendations to increase

throughout the MS curriculum via case studies, training

the diversity of the occupational therapy workforce and

workshops, invited speakers and immersion experiences.

promote cultural competence among practitioners. The

Furthermore, students can opt to take an elective course,

recommendations are being implemented by the AOTA

“Race, Culture and Health Disparities.”

Board of Directors.

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Alumni and Giving

Kielhofner Fund Reaches Endowment Level Following the 2010 passing of professor and department head Gary Kielhofner, the department created the Gary Kielhofner Model of Human Occupation Fund. This year, the fund reached the $25,000 endowment level, allowing an award to be presented in perpetuity. Faculty, students, family members and colleagues contributed to the fund, which will support UIC students, clinicians and faculty who are continuing to research and disseminate MOHO.

Alumni, friends and former faculty provide much needed support for our students and department through their financial gifts as well as by contributing their time and expertise.

Loomis Scholarship in Action

Going the Extra Mile: Alumni Recognition

The Barbara Loomis Scholarship recognizes the contri-

For more than 25 years, alumnae

butions that Barbara Loomis made to the department as

Nancy Richman and Coralie

a long-serving clinician and faculty member, and as the

“Corky” Glantz (back row, with

department head and interim dean in the 1970s and early

Gail Fisher and Barbara Loomis)

’80s. Thanks to her generosity, as well as that of people

have shared their expertise in

who gave to honor her, the scholarship fund will now

long-term care and private

support two students every year. Loomis chose to target

practice with the department.

her scholarship toward students who plan a career in

They have delivered guest lectures, consulted on research

academic or clinical education.

projects, recommended resources to students and faculty, and served as class mentors. Appropriately, they were

Scholarships Benefit Students Generous donations and bequests from alumnae Lillian Torrance, Lois Anderberg Koji, Phyllis Mugge Barlow and

recognized with our college’s AHS Loyalty Award and with the University of Illinois Alumni Association’s Loyalty Award.

Evelyn Alston, as well as former faculty Ruth Hadra and

Alumni Giving

Barbara Loomis and the Illinois Federation of Women’s

Each year, alumni contribute to the department’s Annual

Clubs, make it possible for UIC to award 15 scholarships

Fund, which is used to provide travel scholarships to an

annually. Each scholarship has unique criteria set by the

average of 20 students annually. This affords many students

donor. Recently, our faculty established a new fund with

the transformative experience of attending state and national

their own gifts to help doctoral students afford project and

conferences which helps them see the big picture of the

dissertation costs.

field, resulting in a stronger professional identity.

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Department of Occupational Therapy 1919 W. Taylor Street (MC 811) Chicago, IL 60612

www.ahs.uic.edu/ot

T. 312.996.3051 F. 312.413.0256 E. otdept@uic.edu

04-14 / 3,000 / jh.design@rcn.com

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO