Shenandoah University Division of Occupational Therapy

We are searching for a dynamic, student-centric Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program Director to lead our hybrid program into its next chapter of growth and excellence.

If you are a collaborative academic with a passion for shaping the future of OT education, driving innovative curriculum, and mentoring both faculty and future doctoral practitioners, we want to hear from you.

Apply today! https://jobs.silkroad.com/ShenandoahUniversity/EmploymentPortal/jobs/2839?embedded=true

Reminder that Shenandoah University is hosting a 2-day course (Aug. 29–30) at Scholar Plaza Loudoun on the Essentials of Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation. SU faculty members Drs. Jill Yanick and Nicole Bickhart will serve as instructors for this engaging continuing education opportunity. Sign up today to reserve your spot!

Check out SU PP-OTD Alumni Dr. Erin Gaby and Dr. Alysha Skuthan's feature on the OT School House podcast! They dove into the nuances of the occupational profile and its implications for school-based occupational therapy practitioners on Episode 202: Why Every School-Based OT Needs an Occupational Profile. Way to go!

OTS 202: Why Every School-Based OT Needs an Occupational Profile Are you still relying on the Peabody or BOT as your go-to assessment? You're not alone, but you might be missing something critical. In this episode, we dive deep into occupation-based assessment with Dr. Alysha Skuthan and Dr. Erin Gaby, who recently published groundbreaking research on the occupat...

This week we are highlighting Elizabeth Kennedy, in our MSOT weekend program!

How would you define OT? “Occupational Therapy is a healthcare profession that enables individuals of all ages and conditions to engage fully in life. OT is for anyone unsatisfied with how they are currently performing in life.”

One skill gained? “One skill that I developed during OT school was how to ask the right questions. I'm a naturally curious person, and I could spend hours chatting away with anyone; however, OT school helped me realize what environments or situations influence an individual's health. ”

What keeps you motivated? “I want to help others the same way OT has helped me. I enjoy learning and look forward to being in practice making a difference!”

Favorite OT school memory? “My favorite memory so far is our Community Applications Senior Olympics at Westminster Canterbury!”

Study tip? “My best study tip is to find some friends and study with them! It helps to talk through things rather than just stare at some flashcards or a computer screen.”

Advice? “Do the scary thing. Going to grad school is scary. Completing fieldwork or rotations is scary. Do it anyway. It will be worth it.”

We are so proud of you Elizabeth!

Dr. Rochelle Kingston, PP-OTD SU graduate will be presenting at the New York State Black Occupational Therapy Caucus on June 13th at 1:00 pm. She is reviewing her phenomenological qualitative inquiry exploring the lived experience of Congenital Radioulnar Synostosis. She and Dr. Skuthan also have this worked published in the Journal of Disability and Rehabilitation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40526831/ .
Be sure to attend Dr. Kingston's presentation!

This week we are highlighting Megan Reinsfelder, a year two in our MSOT weekend program!

How would you define OT? “Occupational therapy is a holistic health profession that promotes each individual’s engagement in the activities, environments, and tasks that are most meaningful to them.”

What setting do you hope to work in? “I originally was set on mental health, but I truly love all the settings I have experienced so far! I am keeping an open mind.”

What keeps you motivated? “I want to help others the same way OT has helped me. I enjoy learning and look forward to being in practice making a difference!”

Favorite OT school memory? “My favorite memory so far is our Community Applications Senior Olympics at Westminster Canterbury!”

Advice? “Plan your week on the first day assignments are published! I use a planner and Google Calendar to stay organized and make sure I get everything turned in on time.”

We are so proud of you Megan!

🎓✨ The Hoods Are On! ✨🎓

We celebrated our School of Health Professions graduates at our annual Hooding Ceremony! Receiving a hood marks the transition from student to healthcare professional—representing endless clinicals, studying, and a commitment to caring for others. You are the future of healthcare. Go change the world!

Today marks Day One of in-person summer classes, and we are thrilled to welcome both our Year 1 and Year 2 (OTD) students!

To our Year 1s: Welcome to the starting line! Get ready to dive deep, build lifelong bonds with your cohort, and lay the foundation for your future practice.

To our Year 2s: Welcome back! You’re one step closer to fieldwork and clinical excellence. Keep pushing, keep growing, and keep inspiring.

To our Year 3s: A massive shoutout to our Y3s as they officially head out for their Level II Fieldwork! This is where the classroom meets the clinic. You are ready to step into full-time patient care, apply your expertise, and make a real-world impact. We are so proud of you!

Dr. Alysha Skuthan, PhD, OTR/L, CWHS is joining the promotion train! She has taught across every OT program at SU over the past 7 years and currently serves as the capstone advisor in the PP-OTD program. During her tenure at SU, she has produced 103 capstones, 46 conference presentations, over 20 peer-reviewed journal publications (more are in the works), and has contributed to the development of https://www.occupationbasedpractice.com
Huge congratulations Dr. Skuthan!

Read more on this Capstone below ⬇

For my doctoral capstone project, I partnered with the Wi******er Rescue Mission to implement a four-week sleep hygiene program for residents. Sessions were held twice weekly and focused on the impact of sleep, barriers to quality rest, and practical strategies to improve sleep through education, discussion, reflection, and interactive activities.

This experience deepened my understanding of the environmental and systemic factors affecting sleep in shelter settings and reinforced the role of OT in promoting sleep health and participation in meaningful daily activities for individuals experiencing homelessness.

One of the most significant skills I developed during my DCE was the ability to remain flexible in both the design and implementation of the program. Fluctuations in attendance required me to continuously adapt activities and educational content to meet the needs of participants in each session. This experience also highlighted the importance of building trust as a foundational component of the project. By meeting individuals where they are, I was able to foster meaningful connections that supported engagement and allowed me to share knowledge in a way that felt relevant and impactful.