Drake University Occupational Therapy Department

Drake University Occupational Therapy is excited to host the next Memory Café-a welcoming, supportive space for individuals with mild to moderate cognitive changes and their care partners to connect, engage, and thrive.

This FREE community program offers meaningful activities, social connection, and opportunities to support cognitive health in a relaxed, stigma-free environment. Led by Drake OTD students and faculty, the Memory Café is designed to foster joy, purpose, and belonging for both members of the caregiving dyad.

💙 We need your help!
We’re currently seeking participants to join this special initiative. If you know someone living with memory changes (e.g., early dementia, mild cognitive impairment) and their caregiver, please help us spread the word!

👥 Who should attend?
Individuals with mild–moderate cognitive impairment
A family member, friend, or caregiver

Your connections matter. Share this opportunity with your networks to help us build a supportive and engaging community from the very beginning.

Together, we can create a space where connection replaces isolation and meaningful moments matter.

O2 Research Symposium🎤📊

As part of the OT Doctorate program, students conduct and present their own research projects before heading off to their final year of fieldwork. Recently, they presented their hard work to other OT students and faculty as well as their family and friends via oral and poster presentations.

Some of the topics discussed include the use of AI as a study tool, fieldwork perspectives, brain injury interventions, international pen pals, quality of life among OT practitioners, prosthetic fitting for upper extremity amputees, and fall risk in older adults.

Our O3s become doctors this weekend! Soon-to-be Dr. Cole Brockman has spent this last semester of his education at Doctors of Physical Therapy, where he gained an understanding of the role that OTs play within an onsite industrial rehabilitation setting. This experience was unique because of its focus on ergonomics, injury prevention, and on-site injury care.

As part of Cole’s capstone project, he wrote an article pending submission to the AOTA Student Pulse, made educational handouts and gave presentation to supervisors and new hires on injury prevention and ergonomic techniques.

One of the most valuable aspects of this experience for Cole was the guidance he received from his capstone mentor Josh Kimm (pictured here), who is a Drake OTD alum!

“This experience has meaningfully supported my career goals by allowing me to gain experience within an underrepresented and specialized area of practice,” Cole said. “I am especially interested in the occupation of injury prevention and workplace safety. Additionally, my interest in hand therapy has deepened as this has been relevant to my time here.”

🎓 Jessie Woodyard has been completing her capstone experience at Aging Resources of Central Iowa in Des Moines this spring!

🫂Jessie created an adaptive equipment educational program that she has implemented in the community for older adults and their caregivers. She travels to give presentations and offer consultations on the use of this equipment, and she has also created a series of educational demonstration videos with Easter Seals that can be referenced by staff, caregivers and older adults on the Aging Resources website.

💬 Jessie said “I like being able to meet older adults where they’re at in the community and give them education on equipment they might not otherwise get, and hopefully reduce some of the stigma behind using it.”

Creating safe spaces💙🧶

OT students partnered with Drake Access and Success to host a Paws and Reset day for students to take a brain break and access fun activities and mental health resources 🧠

All In 2026 All In 2026 is officially OPEN!

✨ Join Us for Something Special at Drake OT ✨

Drake University Occupational Therapy is excited to launch our first-ever Memory Café—a welcoming, supportive space for individuals with mild to moderate cognitive changes and their care partners to connect, engage, and thrive.
This FREE community program offers meaningful activities, social connection, and opportunities to support cognitive health in a relaxed, stigma-free environment. Led by Drake OTD students and faculty, the Memory Café is designed to foster joy, purpose, and belonging for both members of the caregiving dyad.

💙 We need your help!
We’re currently seeking participants to join this special initiative. If you know someone living with memory changes (e.g., early dementia, mild cognitive impairment) and their caregiver, please help us spread the word!

👥 Who should attend?
Individuals with mild–moderate cognitive impairment
A family member, friend, or caregiver

Your connections matter. Share this opportunity with your networks to help us build a supportive and engaging community from the very beginning.

Together, we can create a space where connection replaces isolation and meaningful moments matter.

No fooling around, April is 🙌

Occupational therapists can do SO MUCH for those of all ages and abilities! Let’s take this month to celebrate those in all areas of the profession, with only a few specialties listed here.

🎓 O3 Ashley Tupy is completing her OT Doctoral Capstone at Open Circle Adult Day Services this spring!

🪁 Ashley has been busy creating simple, holistic wellness programs for older adults emphasizing key lifestyle areas such as social connection, nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and sleep to improve daily function, independence, and quality of life! She’s helped clients and their caregivers create essential oil lotions, exercise, prep snacks, and more while providing them with educational resources about each lifestyle pillar.

💬 Ashley said “This experience at an adult day center supports my career goals by giving me hands-on experience working with older adults and their age-related needs in a community based setting. It allows me to build skills in creating meaningful, occupation-based activities that promote independence and quality of life.”

Thanks to our special guest, Adventures in Social Drumming, O1 students learned how a little rhythm can provide a lot of therapeutic benefits 🥁🎶