SCRANTON ON THE SPOT
NewsletteroftheOccupationalTherapyDepartmentatTheUniversityofScranton
Level I Fieldwork in Kaua'i
InJanuary2025,eightstudentsfromtheseniorclasstraveledtoKaua’i,Hawaiitocomplete theirLevelIfieldwork.Throughouttheexperience,studentsimmersedthemselvesinthe island’sculturewhilegainingpracticeandknowledgeofoccupationaltherapyandgiving backtothecommunity.Studentswereplacedinvarioussettingstocompletefieldwork includingoutpatienthandtherapyclinics,hospital-basedrehabilitation,andorthopedichand surgery.StudentswerealsoabletocompletecommunityservicevolunteeringatHealing HorsesKaua’iwhichprovidesequinetherapyforadultsandchildrenandtheMissionary ChurchFoodPantrytohelppreparefoodforthoseinneed.Throughoutthevarious experiences,studentsweretransformedbythepeopletheyinteractedwithwhoembraced themwithopenarmsandgraciouslyallowedthemintotheirculture.Studentslearnedabout howoccupationaltherapyservicescanhelpimprovequalityoflifeandhealthina multiculturalsettingwithauniquehealthcaresystem.Studentsfurtherlearnedaboutand appliedtheKawamodeltotheirexperienceswhichisparticularlyapplicableinasettinglike Kaua’i,wherelifeisheavilyinfluencedbythephysicalenvironment.Studentsfeelthatthe knowledgeandperspectivegainedonthistripwillcarryintotheirfutureasculturally competentoccupationaltherapists.
Scranton in Uganda
DuringintersessionagroupofstudentstravelledtoUgandawiththe TheologyDepartment.ThetripwaspartoftheChristianityinAfricaT/RS 295course.Forthepast20years,theUniversityhassentstudentsand professorstoUgandatostudyculture,especiallyinthesenseofmedicine, education,andjustice.OnthistripwasOTprofessorDr.Whittaker,along withtwoSophomoreOTstudents,JanineFarrellandSophiaMadzy.Dr. Whittakerservedasahealthprofessionscoursemoderatorandalsolearned aboutthecultureanddifferenthealthservices.Oneactivitythestudents participatedinincludedcommunityoutreachwheretheyhelpedwitha localhealthclinic.ThetripwillrunagaininJulyasaTheologycourseand isachanceforstudentstobeimmersedinadifferentculture,learnabout communaloccupation,andseehealthfromanoutsider'sperspective.Dr. Whittakerhighlyencouragesanystudentwhomaybeinterestedtoseeher forfurtherinformation.Youcouldexperiencethingssuchaslivewildlife likelionsandhippos,hikeinthejungle,andofcourse,dance!
SOTA Spotlight
ARC VALENTINE’S DAY DANCE
MembersoftheARCandSOTAgot togethertocelebrateValentine’sDay bydancingthenightaway!Volunteers helpedbysettingup,dancingwith ARCmembers,andcleaningup. Thankyoutoallwhovolunteeredand SOTAislookingforwardtothenext eventwiththeARC.
NIGHT TO SHINE PROM
OnFebruary7th,fiveOTstudents volunteeredasbuddiesattheNightto ShineProm,creatinganunforgettable eveningforhundredsofhonored guests.NicoleKennyandKelly McGovern,MSOTstudents,joined juniorOTstudentsJuliaDowning, AngelinaWarren,andRebekah ThompsoninensuringeachKingand Queenenjoyedamagicalprom experiencefilledwithjoy,memories, andinclusion!
In the Community
Thisintersession,first-yearOTstudentJaydaEikewasoneof11studentschosento participateinaservicetripwiththeCenterforServiceandSocialJusticetoNew Orleans,Louisiana.GraduateOTstudentKellyMcGovernwasselectedasa chaperoneforthistrip.Throughouttheweek,studentsvolunteeredwithvarious organizationsinNewOrleans.Theyworkedtobuildhouses,preparefoodboxes, andprovideover5,000hotmealstochildrenandadultsmostinneedintheNOLA community.Greatworkladies,wearesoproudofyou!
Around the World
Art and Architecture course in Seville during intersession! SinceitcanbedifficultforOTstudentstostudyabroadduringtheyear,takinganintersession courseisagreatwaytogetout,seetheworld,andhavealife-changingexperience!This intersessionseniorOTstudentSofiaBredicestudiedfortwoweeksinSeville,Spain.
SEVILLE, SPAIN
OTD Update
OurfirstcohortofOTDstudentscontinuetomakeprogresswiththeplanningoftheirdoctoralcapstone projects.Mostrecently,theyhavesecuredtheirfacultymentorsfortherestofthedoctoralcapstoneprocess. Thisisatremendousmilestone! Thissemestertheyarecompletingtheirliteraturereview,needsassessment,andIRBproposals.Inthefall semester,theywillbeplanningtheweeklyactivitiesoftheirdoctoralcapstoneexperiencesscheduledfor springof2026.Eachoftheproposedprojectsportraytheuniqueanddistinctvalueofoccupationaltherapy andweasanOTDepartmentlookforwardtosharingtheirworkandachievementsinthemonthstocome.
OTDAdmissionsProcessforCohort3(DCE2028)
Theadmissionsprocessforthethird-yearstudents(juniors)optingfortheOTDtrackisunderway.Within thenextfewweeks,watchforinstructionsrelatedtoschedulingyouradmissioncommitteemeeting.
SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD
March 5, 2025, marks National Spread The Word Day! This is a global initiative promoting inclusion and respect by ending the use of the R-word. The R-word is a harmful and offensive term that demeans individuals with disabilities, leading to exclusion and discrimination. By taking the pledge, you commit to standing against discriminatory language, educating others on its harmful impact, and creating a more inclusive world. Be a leader- advocate for change and create a society where every individual is treated with dignity and respect! Go to https://www.spreadtheword.global to take the pledge and join the movement!
Happening in Leahy Hall...
Women's Swim and Dive Team Wins Second Consecutive Landmark Championship
On February 16th the Women’s Swim and Dive Team won their second consecutive Landmark Conference Championship in Baltimore, Maryland. The 35-member team features three of our very own occupational therapy majors: Junior Emily Kane, Junior Sophia Romano and Senior Alanna Kelly.
Kelly was a three time finalist scoring second in the 100-yard breaststroke, third in the 100yard butterfly, and fourth in the 50-yard free. Romano earned second in both the one-meter and three-meter diving events, earning herself second team all-conference. Kane placed 7th in the one-meter diving. These scores contributed to a hefty team score of 859 points solidifying the win over 9 other teams.
Women's Basketball Wins 10th Consecutive Landmark Championship
OnMarch1st,theWomen’sBasketballTeamwontheir 10thstraightLandmarkTitleagainstCatholicUniversity includingourveryown Sophomores,NatalieStoupakisandMeghanLamanna. CongratulationsRoyals!
OT Students Selected as Retreat Leaders
DivinelyDesigned
TheDivinelyDesignedretreattookplacefromJanuary31st-February2ndatChapman LakethroughtheOfficeofCampusMinistries.GraduatestudentsAllisonDeMeoandMadi Borysweretheteamleadersforthisyear’sretreat.GraduatestudentsHaileyHopkinsand RoseCamiolowereselectedtobeapartoftheteam.Thisretreatisawomen’sretreatthat focusesontopicsincludingvoice,bodyimage,relationships,self-care,forgiveness,and spirituality.SeveralotherOTstudentswereamongthe60retreatantswhoparticipatedinthis incredibleweekend.GreatjobtoourOTleaders,wearesoproudofyou!
Manresa12
OnFriday,February14th,over50studentsheadedtotheUniversity’sRetreatCenteratChapmanLake foraweekendofreflectionandcommunity.TheManresaretreatrevolvesaroundvaluesofIgnatian spirituality,specificallytheFirstPrincipleandFoundation.Participantsgottolearnmoreabouttheir relationshipswithoneanother,God,andthemselvesthroughthisexperience.Itwasanamazing weekendfullofloveledbyagroupof11students,includingfifth-yearOTstudentKellyMcGovern andseniorOTstudentKieraLapham.SeveralotherOTstudentsattendedthisretreatandengagedin discussionsontopicsthatareveryimportantinthefieldofOT.
Magee Seminar
AgroupofOTgraduatestudentswereluckyenoughtoattendtheMagee rehabilitationTBI/CVAseminar.UniversityofScrantonalumAmyFlemmingMS, OTR/LandBrianComly,MS,OTR/Lledthetwo-dayseminar,conducting guidedlectures,andhands-onlearningactivities,aswellasprovidingan opportunitytoobserveatreatmentsessionwithcurrentpatients.Thestudents traveledtoMageeRehabilitationHospitalinCenterCity,Philadelphia.Herethe studentsweregivenatourofthefacilityincludingalookintoallthedifferentunits, floors,andprofessionsinvolvedinthecareteamatMagee.Thestudentswereable totestoutdifferentequipmentsuchasHoyerliftsandFresnellenses.Amyand Brainalsoallowedstudentstointeractwithpatientsandobservetreatmentsessions, learningaboute-stim,transfers,andvariousinterventionmethodsfordifferent diagnoses.Thisseminarprovidedaunique,andhands-onlearningexperiencefor students.TheOTgradsthankMageeRehabilitationaswellasAmyandBrianfor providingthisremarkableexperience!
TheOTDepartmentisorganizinganetworkingeventandalumnigathering attheAOTAconferenceonFri.,April4,2025.Staytunedformoredetailsby following@uofsotonInstagram!
Scranton Supports Service Dogs
Ourservicedogscommitteeis lookingfordonationsofbasketsfor ourbasketrafflefundraiseratour springflingevent.Ifyouare interestedindonating,pleasecontact uofsservicedogs@gmail.com
Scranton OT Heads To The AOTA Conference
NineoccupationaltherapystudentsfromtheUniversityofScrantonwillattendtheAOTA InspireConferenceinPhiladelphiafromApril3–5.SeniorOTstudentsLilaNaccari,Emily Welborn,KaitlynGelman,EmmaBenson,AnnieBerger,KieraLapham,andTaraRenda willbejoinedbyjuniorOTstudentsJuliaDowningandEmilyMurphyforthisenriching educationalexperience.Theconferencewillprovidevaluableopportunitiesforprofessional development,networking,andexposuretothelatestadvancementsinthefieldof occupationaltherapy.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
Wisdom of Trauma Screening
JoinDr.KozdenonApril7thfrom7-9pminLSC 133foraviewingofthisincrediblefilm.
SOTA Meeting 3/12/25
Comejoinusforourthirdmeetingofthesemester inLSC133onWednesday,March12at8pm.We willhaveaguestspeakerthatcountsforPD.
SOTA Meeting 3/26/25
Comejoinusforourfourthmeetingofthesemester inLSC133onWednesday,March26at8pm.We willhaveaguestspeakerthatcountsforPD.
GraduateStudents
Erin
Emily
Natalie
Senior
Abigail
Emma
Sofia
Emily
Julia
Rebekah
