Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists believe that occupations are essential to who you are and how you feel about yourself. If you are unable to do the things you enjoy, or need to do, to live your life, then your general well-being may be affected. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages to encourage health, avoid disability, and develop or maintain abilities.

Occupational therapists help develop the skills for the job of living and solve the problems that interfere with an individual’s ability to do the activities or occupations that are significant to them. Whether it be from injury, disease, social disadvantage, or the environment, occupational therapists help their clients to live a more fulfilling life. Occupation refers to the activities and tasks of daily life that have value and meaning to a person. Occupations can include self-care (i.e. personal care, mobility), leisure (i.e. social activities, sports) and productivity (play, school, employment, home making).

Occupational therapists are specialists in the analysis, adaptation and therapeutic use of occupations, to achieve goals jointly determined by the therapist and the client, in the context of their own home and community. In simple terms, as an occupational therapist you may assist a client to:

• Learn new ways of doing things; for example, dress or cook with one arm after a stroke.
• Adapt materials or equipment they use; for example, built up pencils and special seating for a child to attend school.
• Make changes to their environment; for example, negotiate with an employer for a gradual return-to-work plan following a motor vehicle accident.

Canadian occupational therapists are known worldwide for their client-centered approach. The knowledge, experience and self-determination of the client are valued in the practice of occupational therapy.

Be sure to visit an occupational therapy department or private practice to see first-hand how occupational therapists use occupations to help people live fulfilling lives.

• A combined degree curriculum that includes pre-professional and professional phases.
• An advisory board of outstanding regional, professional and academic leaders.
• Research opportunities tightly integrated with the professional curriculum.
• A multidisciplinary approach that uncovers the relationship between occupational therapy and society through courses in philosophy, history, sociology and political science.
• An automatic minor in psychology.
• Opportunities to design dual undergraduate majors and/or tailor additional minors to your areas of interest.

Occupational Therapy Faculty

Our Occupational Therapy faculty have expertise in telemedicine, alternative medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, neuro rehab, sensory processing, cultural adaptability, therapeutic intervention, playground accessibility, and nutritional therapy.

Dr. Edward Mihelcic MA, OTR/L

Title: Professor, MOT Program Director, Research Coordinator 
Department: Occupational Therapy 
Phone: 814-472-2760
Email: emihelcic@francis.edu

Dr. Kerri Golden MOT, OTR/L

Title: Assistant Professor, Curriculum Coodinator
Department: Occupational Therapy 
Phone: 814-472-2791
Email: kgolden@francis.edu

Ms. Amy Hudkins MHS, COTA/L

Title: Instructor / OT Recruitment Coordinator
Department: Occupational Therapy 
Office Location: Raymond Hall, 2nd floor
Phone: 814-472-2792
Email: ahudkins@francis.edu

Dr. Julie Nagle MOT, OTR/L

Title: Instructor of Occupational Therapy
Department: Occupational Therapy 
Office Location: Raymond 213
Phone: 814-472-3543
Email: jnagle@francis.edu

Dr. Lorie Rowles OTD, OTR/L

Title: Associate Professor, Curriculum Coordinator
Department: Occupational Therapy 
Phone: 814-472-2749
Email: lrowles@francis.edu

Dr. Jennifer Misiura, MOT, OTR/L

Title: Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
Department: Occupational Therapy 
Phone: 814-472-3908
Email: jmisiura@francis.edu

The Master of Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. ACOTE's telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. 

National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy Program (NBCOT): 

Data Results

Fieldwork education at Saint Francis University is a crucial part of the students’ professional preparation and is integrated as a component of our curriculum design. The fieldwork experiences provide students with the opportunities necessary to carry out professional responsibilities under the supervision of a “qualified” occupational therapy practitioner serving as a role model.

ACOTE states the goal of Level I fieldwork is to introduce students to the fieldwork experience, to apply knowledge to practice, and to develop understanding of the needs of clients. The goal of Level II Fieldwork is to develop competent, entry-level, generalist occupational therapists. Level II fieldwork must be integral to the program’s curriculum design and must include an in-depth experience in delivering occupational therapy services to clients, focusing on the application of purposeful and meaningful occupation and research, administration, and management of occupational therapy services. It is recommended that the student be exposed to a variety of clients across the life span and to a variety of settings. 

Site Specific Behavioral Objectives

Fieldwork educators (FWEd) must provide proper supervision and the ability to provide frequent assessment of student progress in achieving stated fieldwork (FW) objectives. The Department of Occupational Therapy at Saint Francis University uses the Ten Generic Abilities developed by the UW-Madison as Level I Fieldwork Objectives and uses AOTA' Fieldwork Objectives for Level II Fieldwork. These objectives are agreed upon objectives with the FW sites prior to a student's FW Experience.