FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Raising the bar – again and again

One of the most common questions asked of top-ranked programs is whether, after reaching that level of recognition, it becomes tempting to pause and reflect rather than continue to push forward.

At VCU Occupational Therapy, our answer is unequivocal: Excellence is not something we arrive at and maintain; it is something we actively pursue again and again through our faculty research, student projects and community outreach.

That commitment is evident in the breadth of work featured in this issue, which includes news that our Doctoral Program recently earned full 10-year accreditation from ACOTE.

I invite you to explore the stories and see how VCU OT continues to raise the bar.

A Note from Carole K. Ivey, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, Chair, Occupational Therapy

OT doctoral program earns full 10-year national accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) granted VCU's Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program a Status of Accreditation for the maximum 10-year period – with no suggestions and no areas of noncompliance. The review commended VCU’s innovative capstone structure, which offers research, education and community service tracks that deeply align with our mission. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

'I can still do all the things I want to do'

How VCU OT students helped a young man return to the water

After a life-altering spinal cord injury, 19-year-old Cameran Pickett never expected to fish again.

But through a hands-on adaptive design project, VCU Occupational Therapy students created custom equipment that allowed Cameran to return to the water – restoring not just a beloved hobby, but a powerful sense of independence and possibility.

‘Tiny dinosaur moments’: Class of 2028 receives vests

VCU’s Department of Occupational Therapy welcomed the Class of 2028 with its annual vesting ceremony, where 48 students received their vests in front of a packed auditorium of family and friends. Keynote speaker and alum Caitlyn Berry, M.S., ’15, reminded students that even the smallest acts – what she calls “tiny dinosaur moments” – can make a profound impact in the lives of others.

Vesting speaker Berry cited as

VCU '10 under 10' alum honoree

OT alum Caitlyn Berry, M.S., one of this year’s VCU "10 Under 10" honorees, has built her career in disability services. Her advocacy work is rooted in the belief that people with disabilities are the experts on their own lives and communities are strongest when everyone has equitable access to participation.

FACULTY RESEARCH

Deans do research, too

College of Health Professions’ Darragh 
part of pediatric stroke rehab trial

VCU College of Health Professions Dean Amy Darragh, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, is part of the leadership team behind I-ACQUIRE, the first Phase 3 clinical trial in pediatric rehabilitation funded through the National Institutes of Health’s StrokeNet. The multi-site study tests whether intensive, pediatric rehabilitation can improve arm and hand function for children who experienced perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS), which affects about 3,400 children a year.

Bringing new insight to how the brain sees the world

Timothy Rich, Ph.D., OTR, is advancing our understanding of spatial neglect – a condition that causes people recovering from stroke or brain injury to unknowingly ignore one side of their world. His research blends eye tracking technology, cognitive science and clinical insight to build better assessments and future treatments that support safer, more independent lives.

Advancing diagnosis and rehabilitation for essential tremor

With a new pilot grant from the VCU Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center, OT researcher Brooke Dexheimer, Ph.D., OTD, OTR/L, is investigating how the brain adapts movement – and what goes wrong in essential tremor. The VCU team’s findings could pave the way for earlier diagnosis and more targeted rehabilitation strategies.

DEPARTMENT NEWS

What does art tell us?

First-year graduate students visited the VMFA at the start of the fall semester with Audrey Kane, Ph.D., OTR/L. As they looked at selected works of art, students were asked to consider perspective, be curious and inquire about what was happening in the work, and to consider what feelings the works elicited. The activity stimulated their critical thinking.  

Mader receives inaugural VCU teaching innovation award

Kerry Mader, OTD, OTR/L, CLA, c/NDT, OT assistant professor, was named among the inaugural recipients of VCU's Excellence in Pedagogical Innovation Award (EPIA). The new honor recognizes faculty who transform the classroom with creative, research-informed strategies that deeply engage students.

Andelin leads national sensory integration section

Lauren Andelin, OTD, OTR/L, BCP, chairs the American Occupational Therapy Association's (AOTA) Sensory Integration and Processing Special Interest Section (SIPSIS), leading a national community committed to advancing best practices in sensory integration and processing.

Expanding statewide expertise in lymphedema care

VCU postdoctoral fellow Christine McNichols, Ph.D., OTR/L, led a free, hands-on training that brought nearly 50 OT and PT practitioners together to strengthen early detection and management of a condition affecting 1 in 30 people worldwide.

Sharing clinical knowledge with Ukrainian colleagues

A delegation of Ukrainian health professionals visited Occupational Therapy and other CHP departments as part of the Congressional Office for International Leadership’s Open World Program, a 10-day exchange that connects global leaders with American institutions.

VCU OT IN OUR COMMUNITIES

Vroom! Vroom!

OT students joined faculty member Lauren Andelin to build adaptive cars for Children's Hospital of Richmond, part of VCU Health. The cars serve children with varying mobility needs.

Students participated in the Annual Walk to End Alzheimer's, raising $2,300 for the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

ALUMNI & GIVING

Same class.

New stories.

40 years later.

The VCU Occupational Therapy M.S. Class of 1985 returned to Richmond last fall to celebrate 40 years of friendship, professional impact and a shared OT education. Their reunion reflected the lasting influence of VCU faculty – and a career they still call “the best in the world.”

In Memoriam: Fred Sammons

We are deeply saddened to share that Dr. Fred Sammons passed away in November.

Cited by our professional organization as one of the 100 most influential people in occupational therapy, Sammons graduated from our program in 1955 from the former Richmond Professional Institute, which became VCU in 1968. His many accolades include receiving VCU's Medallion, presented for the outstanding contributions of members of the university community.

Invest in Occupational Therapy today

Your gift to VCU’s Department of Occupational Therapy supports one of the nation’s leading programs, advancing student success and professional training. You can direct your support toward scholarships, faculty excellence or planned giving opportunities.

VCU Department of Occupational Therapy

900 E. Leigh St., Box 98008

Richmond, VA 23298-0008

Phone: (804) 828-2219