EKU Faculty Participate in Assembly of Student Delegates Fun Run in Chicago

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER Issue 2

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER

MAY ISSUE

EKU FACULTY PARTICIPATE IN ASSEMBLY OF STUDENT DELEGATES FUN RUN IN CHICAGO IN THIS ISSUE This year the annual conference of the occupation in recovery and living American Occupational Therapy meaningful lives. Journal of Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) was held in Chicago, Education IL, the windy city. This year was the The Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Department at Eastern Kentucky is largest conference ever, with close to This year marks the 99th anniversary of launching a new online journal entitled Journal of 11,000 occupational therapists, Occupational Therapy Education (JOTE). the beginning of the occupational occupational therapy assistants, and therapy profession. Excitement is The journal will be devoted solely to disseminating students present. Twelve of our faculty starting to build for the 100th anniversary open access, high quality, peer-reviewed research attended, with six presenting their of the first meeting of occupational about teaching and learning as it relates to scholarship. We also had large occupational therapy and occupational science. therapists in 1917, culminating in a centennial celebration at the 2018 Dr. Dana Howell, Editor, along with Dr. Cindy conference in Philadelphia, PA. We Hayden and Dr. Renee Causey-Upton, Associate hope to see you all there to celebrate Editors, will launch the first issue of JOTE in April 2017 to coincide with the American Occupational this amazing profession helping Therapy Association’s centennial celebration. individual’s live life to its fullest. For further information, please email [email protected].

contingent of EKU’s

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy students attend. A major highlight of the conference this year was Transitions the Welcome Celebration and Keynote from School to Address by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Adulthood Downes, who were both critically injured Dr. Doris Pierce and in the Boston Marathon Bombing. They collaborating therapists discussed their recovery as blast trauma presented a three-hour amputees and how occupational workshop titled, therapists aided the in this journey. They Transition Services to gave a funny and moving presentation Secondary Students: Evidence, Assessment, Group-based Intervention, and Meeting Key while highlighting the importance of OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER | Issue 2

2 Challenges. This was the first presentation of the highly significant outcomes of occupational therapy services to 14 to 16 year old students with disabilities in ten Ohio school districts.

The first study is examining predisposing factors for painful bladder syndrome, also known as Interstitial Cystitis. The second study concentrates on daily decision- making concerning occupations that may increase symptoms or flares in women with painful bladder syndrome. ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT

Senior Mary Wagner Mary Wagner successfully presented her Honor's Thesis on April 12. Her research examined the impact of perfectionism on occupation for junior Occupational Science Students. Her family and friends were there in full force to support her during her defense, filling the entire room without an empty seat in the house! Mary also presented her research at the EKU University Showcase on April 15. We are so proud of Mary's research and all of her presentations to disseminate her results.

AOTA 2016 POSTER PRESENTATION Dr.

Hayden presented a poster at the 2016 American Occupational Therapy conference in Chicago, IL in April. Her poster Occupational Disengagement and Reengagement for Individuals with Chronic Pelvic Pain highlighted her ongoing research with Karen Gilbert, Assistant Librarian and Library Liaison to the College of Health Sciences, and Dr. Phyllis Bryden, Associate Profession in Public Health. The research team is analyzing data from two national surveys. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER | Issue 2

“After going to the capitol and completing our project, I have gained a lot from the overall experience and have learned that anyone can submit a bill they strongly believe in, as well as schedule meetings. I was nervous about speaking with professionals and I was surprised on how well talking with legislators went. I loved how this experience really opened my eyes to our legislative process and learn how bills are passed. I learned that there are differences between certain bills and how they are passed within committees. I also loved how this experience gave my team and I

confidence, and showed each other how we can professionally conduct a meeting with a professional legislator.”