Occupational Therapy Newsletter

March 2024

Volume 4, Issue 1

Outlooks from The Director

2024 is off to an unbelievable start, and our achievements are beyond what I could have imagined!

We have been awarded a prestigious HCAI $1.7 million grant, which will be crucial in directly supporting our students. This grant signifies recognition of our program's excellence and opens up new opportunities for growth and innovation.

Additionally, it was an honor to host Alyson Stover, the President of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), who visited our esteemed Dr. Reaume to learn more about the crucial role of OT in maternal and pelvic health. She took the time to visit our campus and engage with our students. The President was inspired by our book-sharing program, a testament to the impactful initiatives we are implementing within our OT community.

Our faculty members continue to shine brightly with several notable scholarly activities already under their belts this year. Their dedication to advancing research and knowledge in occupational therapy is commendable and reinforces our commitment to academic excellence.

Furthermore, our students have been actively involved in serving our local community. Their leadership spearheading a Parkinson's group reflects our program's emphasis on compassionate care and community engagement.

I am also excited that our ASD student representative, Kristina Holcomb, will be attending the upcoming AOTA Conference in Florida. This opportunity highlights our students' caliber and underscores our program's commitment to fostering leadership and professional development.

On a celebratory note, we eagerly anticipate our first hooding ceremony at commencement in May. This momentous occasion symbolizes the culmination of years of hard work and dedication for our graduating students. I am thrilled to announce that we welcomed our fourth cohort into the program. Each new cohort brings fresh perspectives and talents, enriching our community and contributing to our collective success.

I am inspired every day by our OT community and grateful for your unwavering commitment and passion. Together, we are shaping the future of occupational therapy and profoundly impacting the lives of those we serve.

Here's to a spring filled with continued growth, success, and meaningful connections.

~Dr. Natalie A. Perkins

Alumni Stories

Dr. Naima Reddick OTR/L

Naima Reddick, class of 2023, will give the commencement speech for OT at the University graduation on May 18, 2024.

"It’s been a whirlwind since graduation in August. I got a job, a limited license, passed the NBCOT, got a full license, and presented my capstone at OTAC to round out 2023. 2024 so far has included opportunities to speak to current cohorts, present in-services to my coworkers regarding increasing access to learning for students with ADHD and slow processing speeds, as well as the honor of being selected to speak at the commencement for 2023’s much-anticipated cap and gown stage walk. Being selected to speak at said commencement brings mixed feelings. My first thought was, “Are you sure you want me to speak?” My second thought is that it is an honor to be deemed someone with something to say that others consider valuable. I look forward to figuring out what that is." ~Naima

O.T.D.S. Award Recipient

Outstanding, Tenacious, Dedicated Students

Courtney Heller, OTD/S '25

Courtney is a shining example of dedication and passion in occupational therapy.

Her relentless pursuit of excellence marks Courtney's journey. She consistently goes above and beyond, whether excelling in her course assignments or actively seeking mentorship opportunities. Her thirst for professional growth and scholarly contributions sets her apart.

What truly distinguishes Courtney is her unwavering passion for occupational therapy. It's not just a profession for her; it's a calling. Her enthusiasm is infectious, inspiring those around her to strive for their best and to make meaningful impacts in their work. As we celebrate Courtney's well-deserved recognition, let her story serve as a beacon of inspiration. Let's follow in her footsteps, embracing passion, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence in our endeavors.

Congratulations, Courtney, on this remarkable achievement! Your dedication and passion are truly inspiring, and we look forward to watching your continued success in occupational therapy.

Client-Centered Clinical Excellence Award Recipients

George Cardenas '24

"I am eternally grateful to receive this award. I would like to thank my clinical instructors Jon Canton and Anne Fultz for being such great mentors to me during my Level 2A fieldwork experience. I am grateful for my professors at UOP and my cohort for helping me along my OT journey. I would also like to thank my amazing wife and parents for always encouraging me to try my best."

Brianna Swain '24

“I am honored to have received one of the Level IIA Client-Centered Clinical Excellence Awards! My fieldwork site provided me with an environment which allowed me to grow and develop my clinical skills. My clinical instructor, Kelsie Colombini, helped me to gain confidence and always emphasized the importance of client centered care. Thank you to the UOP OTD faculty and staff and everyone at Desert Peak Therapies in Reno, NV.”

Faculty Corner

Publications & Presentations:

Bains, R. & Perkins, N. (2023, November 12). Exploring student-perceived confidence and ability: Association with performance. OTAC Annual Conference. Pasadena, CA.

Black, M., Perkins, N.A., McDaniel, V. (2023, March 14). Unlocking the power of experiential learning: Student reported changes following combined NICU instruction. California Speech Language Hearing Association Conference. San Francisco, CA.

Desai, D. (2024, March 23). Critically Appraised Paper: A randomized controlled trial on effectiveness and feasibility of sport climbing in Parkinson’s disease [Poster Session]. AOTA Inspire 2024, Orlando, FL.

Murphy, R., Park, K., Billock, C., Becerra-Culqui, T., Perkins, N. A., & Bains, R. (2024). Confronting Systemic Racism in Occupational Therapy: A Mixed Methods Study. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 12(1), 1-16.

Perkins, N. A. (2022, December). Collaborating with The Cube to develop educational App. App will be for students in biomechanics course to learn more and interact with simulations to determine ROM, Strength, Force, Actions, in OT scenarios.

Perkins, N.A. (2023, November 15) Occupational Therapy Career Planning [Guest Lecture]. California State University. Sacramento, CA.

Perkins, N.A. (2024, January 22) Leveraging Leadership Skills [Guest Lecture]. University of the Pacific.

Perkins, N.A. (2024, January 24) Developing curriculum for new academic program [Guest Lecture]. University of the Pacific.

Perkins, N.A., McCormack, G., & Dunlea, A. (2023). Synergizing occupational science and Occupational Therapy: Designing an integrated foundations course for health education. Pacific Journal of Health, 6, (1).

Perkins, N.A. (2024, February, 24). Principal Investigator. $1,668,398.95. Justice and System-Involved Youth: Behavioral Health Pipeline. March 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027. California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI).

Cole, D., Perkins, N. A., Gietzen, L., Hussain, Z., & Cole, D.M. (2023) Veterans in crisis: Identifying and reducing suicide, Pacific Journal of Health, 6 (1).

Reaume, C.D., Edwards, B., Lopez, L. & Rafeedie, S. (2023, November 10). State Legislative and Regulatory Updates [Short Course]. Occupational Therapy Association of California Annual Conference. Pasadena, CA.

Reaume, C.D. & Edwards, B. (2023, November 11). Advocacy 101 [Short Course]. Occupational Therapy Association of California Annual Conference. Pasadena, CA.

Reaume, C.D. (2023, December 8). Opportunities for Occupational Therapists in Maternal Health [Guest Lecture]. Tuoro University.

Reaume, C.D. (2023, December 8). Occupational Therapy: Living Life to its Fullest [Guest Lecture]. California State University – Sacramento.

Reaume, C.D. (Guest) (2024, January 25). What is OT in 2024? [Audio podcast episode]. OT Potential.

Reaume, C.D. (2024, January 29). Advocacy 101: How Students Can Get Involved [Guest Presentation]. University of St. Augustine.

Reaume, C.D. (2024, February 21). Supporting Postpartum Pelvic Floor Healing [Guest Presentation]. Los Angeles Best Babies Network.

Reaume, C.D. (Guest) (2024, February 26). OT in Supporting Mothers [Audio podcast episode]. The Uncommon OT Series.

Whiting, C., & Perkins, N.A. (2024, May 21). State medical board disciplinary actions against physician assistants. AAPA 2024. Houston, TX

Department Highlights:

Pacific awarded $1.7M to support occupational therapy, social work students.

The state grant will provide stipends and robust support services to students who grew up in foster care, have experienced homelessness or were in the justice system as youth.

AOTA President Alyson Stover Visits

AOTA President Alyson Stover visited Sacramento in January! She learned more about the world of pelvic floor health from Supported Mama, Dr. Reaume. Pelvic floor and maternal health are vital OT practice areas. Alyson also took time to visit the OTD program and inspire our 1st & 2nd-year students!

Dr. Natalie Perkins, TEDx Speaker

More than 10 distinguished speakers will take to the stage in Faye Spanos Concert Hall at University of the Pacific to share “ideas worth spreading.” Our own Dr. Perkins will be a speaker at the event. The event takes place Saturday April 6th. Check out the speaker line up and buy tickets to the event.

Buy Tickets Today

Dr. Raj Bains

Dr. Bains received her Certified Brain Injury Specialist certification in October 2024. Dr. Bains had been studying for her exam throughout the fall term. Brain injury rehabilitation is one of her passions and she was excited to receive this certification.

Distinguished Fieldwork Educator Award Recipients

Shauna Maxwell OTR/L

Shauna was nominated by Alex Zamora '24 for her passion to help others. "It is obvious that she truly cares about the educational success of the children in the Folsom-Cordova Unified School District. It has definitely been a privilege to learn and work alongside Shauna for my Level II-A fieldwork experience."

Kelsie Colombini OTR/L

Kelsie was nominated by Brianna Swain '24 for her mentorship and dedication. "Kelsie has helped me gain knowledge, confidence, and passion for the field of OT. She encourages me to use my clinical judgement and has helped me to build confidence during treatment sessions."

Meghan Ballog OTR/L

Meghan was nominated by Cassey Dela Pena '24 for her advocacy. "Meghan has a silent yet impactful leadership style, and unwavering commitment to the occupational therapy profession. She is dedicated to her patients' overall wellbeing and ongoing progress. Meghan truly embodies the quintessential qualities of an empathetic and well-rounded patient advocate."

Student Corner

Parkinson & Care Partner Group: '25 students led groups for individuals with Parkinson's and their care partners at the Elk Grove Senior Center. Students educated participants on safety, mobility, mental health and provided free balance assessments.

2026 Cohort Clinical Skills - First year students are gaining new skills in performing assessments and clinical handling techniques. The 2nd year students are leading additional skill labs to share their knowledge and reinforce concepts.

OTD Alumni: Naima Reddick, Karina Phan, Jesus Aguilar, and Michelle Drawdy returned to campus to share their knowledge as new OT's with the 2025 Cohort. It was wonderful having them back on campus and exciting to see hear about their journey to becoming an OTR/L.

Resources

"The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it."

―Amanda Gorman

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University of the Pacific, Occupational Therapy Department

3200 5th Ave.

Sacramento, CA 95817

916.520.7496

otprogram@pacific.edu | @uop_otd

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 24 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3