SCRANTON ON THE SPOT
NewsletteroftheOccupationalTherapyDepartmentatTheUniversityofScranton
WORLD OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPY DAY
October 27 was World Occupational Therapy Day! This year’s theme was Occupational Therapy in Action. This theme was chosen to highlight the efforts of occupational therapy practitioners around the world and the profession’s goal of helping individuals participate in meaningful activities. The aim of this annual celebration is to increase awareness and visibility of occupational therapy’s development as a profession. For more information about World Occupational Day and how to celebrate the profession visit AOTA’s website! th
:Makingfinger andhandsplintsinHandLab
Whats Happening in Leahy Hall...
:Makingadaptive sharktankproducts
OT424:Adaptingcookingforvisualimpairments
:Drawingthe thoraciccavityontot-shirts
OT320L
PENNSYLVANIA OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION RECAP
Saturday,October25,OTGradstudents,inthe DoctorateProgram,andDr.JenniferWhittaker presentedtheirresearchonFactorsSupporting OTpractitionerKnowledgeofPopulation Health.TheirSessionbroughtinseveralstudents andpractitionersexcitedtolearnmore!
Dr.CarrieGriffiths,incollaborationwithDr. MeganWhitbeckfromtheCounseling Department,presentedaposteratthePOTA conferenceonfosteringinterprofessional collaborationsinmentalhealthpractice.
Dr.CarrieGriffithspresentedwiththePOTA StudentNetworkingBoardonnetworking strategiesforOTandOTAstudentsduringa 50minutesesisonfocusingonconversations thatmatterinOTpractice.
Dr.DeborahBudashpublishedanarticlewithPennPoint, POTAsnewsletter,reflectingonthePOTAconference’ssuccess. TheannualPOTAconference,heldatKing’sCollegeinWilkes Barre,PA,broughttogether321OTPs.Designedtoclinicallyfocused,basedonmembersfeedback,theconferenceofferedan arrayofworkshops,sessions,posterpresentationsthatcould directlyimpactpractice.
GIGI GRAHAM
PENNSYLVANIA OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION RECAP
Dr.CarrieGriffithsandDr.DeborahBudashpresentedtheirresearch duringapostersessionatthePOTAconferencetitledFruitandRoots: FeedingtheBodyandSoul.Theirresearchhighlightedtheeducational journeyofsecond-yearOTstudentsastheysupportedthelocalScranton communitythroughtheimplementationofnutritionprogramsthrougha communityfridge.Studentsfoundtheexperiencetobevaluabletodeepen theirunderstandingofthesocialdeterminantsofhealthandpromoting communityhealthandwell-being.
Dr.PatriciaWisniewskiguidedateamofeightgraduatestudentsintheir researchandpresentedtheirfindingsduringapostersessionatthePOTA conference.Thierresearchfocusedontheeffectivenessoftransformative experientiallearningthroughfirstyearOTstudentreflections.Theresearch indicatedthatstudentslearningwasenhancedthroughcommunitybased learningactivities.
Dr.DeborahBudash,alongwithrecentOTgraduateHaileyHopkins, presentedtheirresearchfindingsduringapostersessionatthePOTA conference.Theirstudyfocusedonspiritualityandspiritualoccupationsof internationalstudents.Resultsincludedthatspiritualoccupationpatternsdo notchangebuthowtheseoccupationsaredonedoes.OTpractitionerscan supportstudents’spiritualwellnessbysupportingadaptationstothenew contextualenvironment.
Dr.JulieNastasipresentedtwopre-institutesatPOTAconference.The pre-institutesfocusedonlowvisiondiagnosesandcommoninterventionsas wellaslowvisionevaluationsforoccupationaltherapy.Dr.Nastasishared herlowvisionexpertisewithconferenceattendees,enhancingtheir knowledgeandclinicalskillswithlowvisionclients.
CARFIT CERTIFIACTION
On October 17 and October 23 graduate occupational therapy students in OT 525 hosted their second and third CarFit events. These events allow students to become trained technicians and gain the skills to assess the conditions of cars and then adapt different aspects including the seat belt, steering wheel and pedals, making it suitable for older drivers. The students hosted the events at Fallbrook Senior Community Center (top photo) and Academy II Apartments (bottom photo). These settings are partnered with UNC allowing for this program to be held free of charge for the community members. th rd
SCRANTON FRINGE FESTIVAL PUPPET SHOW
As part of The OT 520 Advanced Occupational Performance class, they partnered with Scranton Fringe Festival to host a puppet show at the Lackawanna Children’s Library.
OLIVIA GALLIONE
JAYDA EIKE
SOTA Spotlight
HALLOWEEN ARC DANCE MONSTER MASH BASH
TheannualHalloweenArc Dancewasablast!Over80 membersoftheArccame dressedintheirbestcostumes andhitthedancefloor.SOTA membersvolunteeredhanding outfoodanddancingwith membersofArc.Thedancewas onHalloweennightandthe energywasimmaculate.Thank youtoallwhocametohelpout anddance!
SOTArepresentativesGrace Comiciotto,ErinAdomilli,and KelseyMylervolunteeredatthe MonsterMashBash!Thisevent bringthecommunitytogether forafunandsafetrick-or-treat experienceforchildren.Our OTstudentshosteda stereognosis-basedactivity, wherekidsworkstoidentifythe candywithoutusingvision!
SOTA Spotlight
ADAPTIVE HALLOWEEN CANDY AOTA STUDENT DELEGATE
OnNovember3 SOTAhad aneventinTheDenaples Centereducatingstudentson theuseofadaptiveequipment. Thoseinvolvedwereableto learnandusedifferenttypesof adaptivekitchenutensilsabout howandwhentheymaybe used.Studentsthenusedthe utensilstotakehometheir ownfestiveHalloweencandy mix! rd SOTAhasjustelectedits newestboardmember,Olivia Gallione!Oliviawillserve alongsideEvaDaraas AmericanOccupational TherapyAssociation AssemblyofStudents DelegatesCo-Representative. Congratulations,Olivia!
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FIELDWORK
ThisJanuary,seniorOccupationalTherapystudentswillparticipateinaweek-long serviceandfieldworkexperienceintheDominicanRepublic.FromJanuary3to10, studentswillengageinculturalimmersion,collaboratewithcommunitypartners, assistinbuildingahomeforalocalfamily,andsupportpop-uphealthclinics addressingcommunityhealthcareneeds.StudentsgoingonthetripincludeJamie Alderfer,AaronBrutus,ShannonComiskey,AlexMorelli,EmmaD’Avanzo,Julia Downing,LilyGuidetti,KatherineHarren,EmmaLindsley,JulianaLlaurado,Julia Perrina,HannahVidovich,andKaylaWright.Dr.ChandraNealonwill accompanystudentsonthetrip.
Althoughmostfundraisingiscomplete,theprogram’sdonationpagealso remainsopenforcontributions.Tosupportthistrip,thegrouphas completedseveralfundraisingevents,includinganopenbarfundraiser,a PaneraBreadfundraiser,andsweatshirtandtotebagsales.
HAWAII FIELDWORK
TheOTDepartmentisstillholdingbakesales,t-shirtsalesandmoretoraisemoneyfor theopportunityfor8OTstudentstocompletetheirlevel1fieldworkrotationfortheir physicalrehabilitationinKauai,Hawaii.Thesestudentsare4seniorsJuliaVentura, CaitlinMannion,RebekahThompson,RowanCann,and4graduateStudentsMeredith Lee,KatieHoldsworth,LilaNaccariandEmilyWelborn.Theywillbeattendingwith Dr.CourtneyLanciaandDr.LisaKozden.ThistripwillbefromJanuary7-January 17,2026. th th ThestudentswillcompletetheirfieldworkalongsidehealthcareworkersinKauaiand immersingthemselvesincommunitylearningopportunities.TheHawaiiteam fundraisedthroughfootballsquaresfortheDallasCowboysversusKansasCityChiefs gameonThanksgivingandisalsocurrentlysellingScrantaconclothing.Makesureto check@otkauaiot26formorewaystohelpsupportthesestudents!
MCKENNA WILSON
GO BABY GO!
RecruitmenthasbegunforGoBabyGo!GoBabyGo aimstoprovidelocalchildrenwhohavemobility impairmentsandotherdisabilitieswithapoweredride oncarthattheycanusetoexploretheirenviornment independelty,andinstyle!Ifyouknowofafamilywho wouldbenefitfromGoBabyGoreachouttoDr.
StephanieDeNaples(stephanie.denaples@scranton.edu) formoreinformation.
Aninterdisciplinaryteamofcollegestudentswillwork togethertocustomizethecar!Ifyouareinterestedin joiningthemobilityinitiativereachouttoDr.
StephanieDeNaples(stephanie.denaples@scranton.edu) orKaitlynGelman(kaitlyn.gelman@scranton.edu).
DOWNING
GraduateOTstudentsattendedatwo-dayseminarwith MeghanBurkhardttolearnaboutOTsroleinthe NICU.TherewerenumerouslecturesaboutOTinthis uniquesetting,andstudentswereabletoparticipatein activitiessuchasswaddling,usingadaptiveequipment, andmeasuringheadcircumference.Itwasan informativeandenrichingexperiencewhichgave studentsalotofin-depthknowledgeaboutoccupational therapyintheNICU.
JULIA
LANDMARK CHAMPIONSHIP
Thewomen’ssoccerteamdefeatedCatholicUniversityinathrilling1-0victoryfor theirsixthconsecutiveLandmarkConferencetitle.Thiswinearnedthemabidintothe firstroundofNCAAplayoffs.CongratulationstoOTstudentsNicoleSchulingkamp (2028),AddisonVanLenten(2028),andEliseNicholas(2029)!
ThefieldhockeyteamtriumphedoverrivalSusquehannaUniversityintheLandmark Championshipwitha3-0victory,beingthethirdlandmarkchampionshiptitlein programhistory.ThiswinsecuredtheteamaspotintheNCAAtournament. CongratulationstoOTstudentsOliviaDougherty(2028),GracieBuchholz(2029),and RubySorber(2029)!
DEEP DIVE ON SCI REHABILITATION
OT GRADUATE SEMINAR
InNovember,afullrosterofOTgraduatestudentsenrolledinthespinalcord injuryseminarledbyScrantonOTprogramalumniCateFurman,MS,OTR/L, andPeteDeLong,MS,OTR/L,CLT.Studentshadtheopportunitytolearnabout assessments,thefunctionalimplicationsofspinalcordinjury,andhowOTPs facilitateclients’occupationalengagementandparticipation.OnSaturday, 11/15/25,thestudentstraveledtoMageetoseetheworld-classfacility,experiment withwheelchairsandassistivetechnologies,learnaboutseatingsystems,andmeet withtwocurrentpatients.Itisalwaysapowerfullearningexperienceandleaves manyofourstudentswantingtolearnmore.TheOTDepartmentrecognizesthe dedicationofCate,Pete,andalloftheotherScrantonalumnipracticingatMagee formakingthissuchanamazingexperienceforourstudents.
FRANK O'HARA AWARD
CongratulationstosophomoreOTstudentNicole SchulingkampandjuniorOTstudentOlivia GallioneforbeingrecognizedasaFrankO’Hara Awardrecepient.TheFrankO’HaraAwardhonors studentswiththehighestgradepointaveragefrom eachoftherespectedcolleges.NicoleandOlivia werepresentedwiththeawardfortheLeahyCollege ofHealthSciencesonDecember3,recognizing theiroutstandingadacemicachievementfortheir freshmanandsophomoreyear. rd
DEBORAH BUDASH
COMMUNITY BASED LEARNING
SeniorOTstudentsvisitedthe LackawannaBlindAssociationto learnhowtobettersupport individualswithvisual impairmentsintheirfuture healthcarepractice!
Thejuniorclassismaking switchadaptationsvia3D printersandwirestomake children’stoysmoreaccessible. TheywillgototheTrinity Centertodeliverthesetoysjust intimefortheholidays!
SophomoreOTstudentshelda “PaintandSip”atvariousassisted livinghomesinthecommunity toincreaseawarenessand adaptivenessduringleisure activities.
TOPICS IN OT: THE GRADUATE SEMINAR SERIES
TheOTDepartmentwaspleasedtowelcome backtocampusOTprogramalumnus,Nicollette Soreneson,MS,OTR/L,foraseminarentitled, OTsRoleintheAssistiveTechnologyWorld. Nicollettegraciouslysharedherexperience, expertise,andequipmentduringthisseminar includingcommunicationtechnologies,adapted toysandwritingdevices,andaccessibility featuresonsmartphonesandlaptops.
TopicsinOT(thegraduateSeminarcourse)providesgraduatestudentsdeeper explorationofspecialtyareasofOTpractice.Wearesoproudtoboastthatmany ofourspeakersareprogramalumnicomingbacktoteachthenextgenerationof ScrantonOTs.Wearealwayslookingfortimelyandemergingpracticeareastobe offeredaspartoftheseminarseries.Ifyouwouldliketoshareyourclinical expertiseandbepartoftheseminarseries,pleasecontactDr.Budash (Deborah.budash@scranton.edu)tolearnmore.
TEAM IMPACT
Thewomen’slacrosseteamparticipatedinthe TeamIMPACT5KonOctober5.Team IMPACTmatcheschildrenwithseriousillnesses anddisabilitieswithcollegesportsteamsto createalife-changingexperienceforboth studentathletesandchildrenlikeNinaCroom, whoispairedwithScrantonWomen’sLacrosse.
OTStudentsJessicaMcCabe,Mia Dinnocenzio,andRileyMillerareinvolvedin theinitiative. th
THE PLAYERS
TheRoyalPlayersdidaProductionofA Doll’sHousePart2,this4personshow playedfromNovember5 through November9 intheStudioTheatre.This oneactplaywasincrediblyheartfeltand heldadeepmessageofresponsibility, personalidentity,andrespect.Thiswasthe firstevershowforSophomoreOTStudent JaydaEike.
Ihopeallwhohadthechancetoseeit enjoyedtheshowandlookforwardto futureRoyalProductions!
JAYDA EIKE
STUDENT RUN TSHIRT ORDERS
SeniorOTstudentAllieLerrowonthe
SOTAT-shirtdesigncontestwithan artworkfeaturingtheOTdepartment’s belovedtherapups,NalaandEllee, completingtheirfavoriteoccupations.
SOTArepresentativesChristinaGabrieland KelseyMylerareworkingtobringthe designtolife.Allorderswillbeavailablefor pickupduringfinalsweekatthetableseats locatedinLeahyHall.
OT STUDENTS STEP INTO LEVEL 1 FIELDWORK
Dr.CourtneyLanciaandDr.Elyse Kayhavebeenhardatwork coordinatingLevelIfieldwork placementsfor92OTstudents. Theseplacementsspanawide rangeofpracticeareas,including inpatientandoutpatientsettings, skillednursingfacilities,schoolbasedenvironments,and community-basedsites.OurOT studentsareincrediblygratefulfor thededicationandsupportofour amazingfieldworkcoordinators!
EMILY KANE
WISDOM OF TRAUMA
TheWisdomofTraumafilmscreening tookplaceonOctober27th,servingasboth aprofessionaldevelopmentopportunityand asachancetoimproveclinicalskills.The filmaimstocreateadeeperunderstanding ofmentalhealthchallengesthatindividuals faceinsociety,whilealsomotivating viewerstobetheirownadvocatefortheir personalwellbeing.
PAINT AND SIP
Dr.WisniewskiandjuniorOTstudentMeghanMartin coordinatedapaintandsipwiththelocalScrantoncommunity. Theywantedtoprovideadultsinthecommunitywithintellectual disabilitiesanopportunitytoexpressthemselvesandconnectwith ScrantonOTstudents.Studentsandparticipantswereabletobuild aconnectionthroughartandjuice!
JULIA DOWNING
TRAUMA INFORMED CARE: BLANKET MAKING
GraduatestudentstakingAdvancementofOccupationalPerforamance withDr.JenniferWhittakercraftedaspecializedblankettoprovide comfortandemotionalsupporttoachildaffectedbytrauma.Thisblanket willbedonatedtoachildtopromotefeelingsofsafetyandassistselfregulation.Studentsenhancedtheirunderstandingoftraumainformed care,creativeskills,andoccupationbasedinterventions.Thiswonderful blanketwillbedonatedtoafostercareagencytoimprovethewellbeing ofachild.
Scranton Supports Service Dogs
TheUniversityofScrantonServiceDogs Program,ledbygraduateoccupationaltherapy students,continuesitsmissiontoadvancethe trainingandplacementofservicedogs throughouttheScrantoncommunity.Thisyear theprogramispartneringwiththeScranton SchoolforDeafandHard-of-HearingChildren toraisefundsforthetrainingandplacementofa servicedogthatwilldirectlysupportstudents withintheirschoolenvironment.Updatesand informationaboutupcomingfundraisingevents willbesharedoninstagamat@uofsservicedogs.
Ways To Get Involved in The Community
Numerousorganizationsanddonationdriveswillbeheldafter winterbreak!Ifyouarelookingtogetinvolved,youcandonate toanyofthefollowingprograms!VetDogshasfundraisers plannedfornextsemesterandanornamentsale.ContactKaitlyn Gelmanwithanyquestions!Thefoodpantrywillbeaccepting non-perishablefooditemsandcannedgoods.Theperiodproject willbeacceptinganyperiodproducts(pads,tampons,etc.).For moreinformation,contacttheJaneKopasWomen’sCenter.
GIGI GRAHAM
MCKENNA WILSON
Senior
EmilyKane
EmilyMurphy
JuliaDowning
RebekahThompson
Junior
DaniellaMcCathy
ErinAdomilli
GabriellaGraham
McKennaWilson
OliviaGallione
SophomoreStudents
CarleyDumaresq
JaydaEike
OliviaDougherty
