The Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) capstone project and formal presentation is the final milestone in the doctoral candidate's curriculum. The formal presentation to academic and clinical communities showcases the culmination of an individual capstone project and experience completed by each doctoral candidate that is suitable for dissemination upon graduation.
To learn more about Jefferson's Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, please visit their website.
Submissions from 2026
Feasibility and Development of a Driver Rehabilitation Program Within a Pediatric Hospital System, Meghan Baillargeon and Stepfanie Stapf
Exploring the Feasibility of a Work Attainment Skills Program Targeting Self-Efficacy for Neurodiverse Adults, Brooke Bialoblocki and Rachel Castro
Enhancing Therapist Confidence and Competence in BIPOC Hair Care Practices in Outpatient Occupational Therapy, Ceasia Brown
Building Trust, Attachment, & Regulation Through Occupation for Children Who Have Experienced Complex Developmental Trauma, Grace Burke and Henielys M. Ramos Ramos
Beery Visual-Motor Integration Performance in Children With Trisomy 21: Scoring Norms and Influences, Maureen Burke
Enhancing Independence in Self-Directed Living Environments for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Madeleine Casey and Cassandra Kuliecza
Enhancing Transition Services for High School Students with Disabilities: The WorkWISE Program (Work Instruction, Support and Education), Kierstin Charlier and Tyece Cherry
BrewAbility: Inclusive Design For Accessible Expresso Preparation, Danielle D'Avirro
Promoting Access To Gender Affirming Occupational Therapy Services Through Jefferson Pride Care, Shaan Desai
Caregiver Perspectives on Elopement in Neurodiverse Children: Promoting Sleep Safety, Kayla Fili
NovaCare Level II Student Needs Identification, Jonah Gantz
The LaceUp Sleeve for Upper Extremity Tremor: Results of a Pilot Study, Hannah Gravante and Tori Hamilton
Cultural Adaptation of Occupational Therapy Using Ayres Sensory Integration® Intervention Manual for Hispanic and Latino Communities, Aili Hauptmann and Jaydn Hunter
Enhancing Daily Life Skills: Developent and Implementation of a Life Skills Program for Middle Schoolers, Lauren Hirschman and Caleigh Hoban
Occupational Therapy Program Development in Unhoused Communities, Abbigayle Jackson, Emma Pacheco, Mariko Turley, and Jennifer Wickham
Examining the Occupation-Based Approach in the Hand Therapy Setting, Caroline Kienzle
Environmental Modification in Schools: A Sensory-Based Approach to Neurodivergent Student Participation and Performance, Juliana Kingsborough and Nicole Paniccia
Routines That Heal: Enhancing Community Routines Through Environmental Modifications in Residential Mental Health, Sarah Levasseur
Optimizing Pediatric Vestibular Evaluation: Development of a Clinical Decision-Making Tool and Educational Resources, Brianna Lewis
Program Development at the Communities of Don Guanella and Divine Providence, Kara Linden and India Linder
Exploring Counterspace and Self-Determination in Group Coaching for Neurodivergent STEM Students, Kaitlyn Lozano and Jennifer Nguyen
Submissions from 2025
Promoting Inclusive Preschool Environments Through Universal Design for Learning, Joyce Byeon, Caitlyn Diaz, and Lindsay Streit
From Living Room to Family Room: A Model for Occupational Therapy with the Unhoused Population, Samantha Carney, Morgan Cepollina, Emily Garron, and Allie Ward
Development and Validation of the Celebral Palsy Profile of Health and Function (CP-PRO): Preliminary Findings, Emily Cavallaro and Tara Hennelly
CHOP Aquatic Therapy Quality Improvement Initiative, Emily Chau
Jefferson Elder Care: Enhancing Community-Based Services using the Cognitive Disabilities Model (CDM), Lauren Conley, Xiaoran Yuan, Leah Soliman, and Tiana Mackarey
Equity in Action: Transforming Work Environments through Accommodations for Neurodiverse Populations, Alissa Felmlee and Kaitlin Millilo
Occupational Therapy Principles to Support Design Research, Maya Freedman; Emily Betchyk; Kimberly S. Mollo BFA, OTD, OTR/L; Eric Schneider BFA, MS, IDSA, RSA; and Tod Corlett MID, IDSA
Designing and Testing a Multi-Sensory Environment for Autistic Children in the School Setting, Janie Hatcher
Establishing Beery Visual-Motor Integration Scoring Norms for School-Aged Children with Trisomy 21: A Retrospective Chart Review, Isabel Hendrickson
Empowering Change: Exploring Feasibility, Utility, and Fidelity in Group Coaching Across Populations, Emdadul Hoque, Katie McLaughlin, and Mert Kuzhan
Federal Advocacy in Action: Supporting School-Based Mental Health Occupational Therapy, Rachel Kostelz
Enhancing Workplace and Healthcare Communication for Neurodiverse Populations, Alexandria Krasin and Alexis Ward
Caregiver Perspectives on Sleep Safety in Neurodiverse Children, Nicole Macrina
Systematic Approach to Activities of Daily Living Skills for Autistic Adolescents and Young Adults, Kayla Stygar
Fishing with Ease, Morganne Wandall; Kimberly S. Mollo BFA, OTD, OTR/L; Eric Schneider BFA, MS, IDSA, RSA; Tod Corlett MID, IDSA; and Jessie Perchaluk OTD, MS, OTR/L, CHT, CLT
Effects of Occupational Therapy-Based Educational Program to Promote Good Carryover of Fall Prevention Education, Sophia Wolfberg and Olivia Brassil
Submissions from 2024
Evaluating Self-Care Milestones in Children with Trisomy 21: Using a Prospective Caregiver Survey, Emily Ashton and Erin Price, OTD, OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC
Development of Adaptive Devices through Collaboration Between Occupational Therapy, Industrial Design, and Individuals Living with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva, Kylie Bell; Nicholas Paglia; Cameron Plummer; Brienna Tankesley; Kimberly Mollo, BFA, OTD/OTR/L; Tod Corlett, MID, IDSA; and Eric Schneider, BFA, MS IDSA, RSA
The Development of an Evidence-Based Peer Mentoring Program in Occupational Therapy Education, Abby Choboy; Keyana Harden; and Rebecca Sinko, OTD, OTR/L, CLA
Participatory Occupational Justice in Action: Building Programs with Newcomers, Nehal Eloraby; Sara Mathai; Stephanie Stoner; Nikki Toole; and Stephen Kern, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
The GOALS2 Program: Evaluating the Past to Guide the Future of Students' Supplementary Supports at Jefferson, Maud Formson; Nicole Hofmann; and Marie-Christine Potvin, PhD, OTR/L
Enhancing What Matters: Understanding Occupational Therapy's Role with Embedding Health Literacy Principles in an Age-Friendly Primary Care, Mackenzie Gallant; Lauryn Jodoin; and Tracey Vause Earland, PhD, OTR/L
Clinicians' Perceptions of infusing Coaching in Practice, Catherine Robinson; Daniel Toland; and Marie-Christine Potvin, PhD, OTR/L
The Complexities of Serious Mental Illness, Homelessness, and Functional Cognition: An Occupational Therapy Perspective, Alexandra Sosa; Britta Erie; Nydia Johnson; Sydney Jones; and Tina DeAngelis, EdD, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA
Submissions from 2023
Student and Faculty Perspectives on Supports and Barriers to Student Development, Satisfaction, and Retention in Occupational Therapy Education: Informing Development of a Peer Mentor Program, Grace Arnold; Analise Kaminski; and Rebecca Sinko, OTD, OTR/L, CLA
Supporting the Needs of Autistic Adults in the Workplace, Abigail Bailey; Kayla Beovich; and Michael Barrett, OTD, OTR/L
Improving Use and Accessibility of Occupational Therapy Services for Black and African American Autistic Children and Their Families, Allison L. Barrett and Roseann C. Schaaf, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Learning Together: Interprofessional Insights to Dementia Education Redesigned, Lauren Boccardo and E. Adel Herge, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA
The Passage Program: The Role of Occupational Therapy in School-to-Adulthood Transitions for Students with Disabiltiies, Julia Brklycica; Sophia Huang; and Bernadette Alpajora, OTD, OTR/L
Supporting Students with Disabilities in High School Transition Programs: An Occupational Therapy Based Instructional Guide for Paraprofessionals, Sarah Brook and Kathleen Lawlor
Empowering Individuals with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva: Defining the Collaborative Relationship Between Occupational Therapy, Industrial Design, and End-users, Sarah Chu; Danielle O'Connell; Lauren Kennedy; Alia Boynton; Kimberly S. Mollo, BFA, OTD, OTR/L; Tod Corlett, MID; and Eric Schneider, BFA, MS
Developing a Work Readiness Training Curriculum for Adults with Intellectual Disability in a Rural Community, Keaton Clary and E. Adel Herge, OTD, OTR/L FAOTA
Global Hand and Upper Limb Training Program: For Low- and Middle-Income Countries, Elizabeth Clayton; Toni Feite; and Jane Fedorczyk, PT, PhD, CHT
Taking Power Back from Pain: Development and Evaluation of an Occupational Therapy Group Protocol to Empower Refugees who Experience Chronic Pain, Ashley Ender; Stacy Young; and Stephen Kern, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Occupational Therapy in Its Prime: Quality and Equitable Services for All & the Future of Occupational Therapy in an Evolving Healthcare System, Hannah Galpin; Marissa Hendrixson; Nicolette Macri; Claire Tarzia; and Tina DeAngelis, EdD, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA
Occupational Therapy in the Research and Development of Neuro-Rehab Technology: Designing Tasks for Machine Learning, Tatiana Guerrero and Namrata Grampurohit, PhD, OTR/L
Value and Use of Coaching Skills in OT Practice: Alumni Perspectives, Marissa LaSalle; Vikita Patel; and Marie-Christine Potvin, PhD, OTR/L
Life, Leisure, and the Pursuit of Community Integration: An Occupational Therapy Program for Post-Secondary Transition Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Kathleen Lawlor and Sarah Brook
Enabling Environments: Designing a Sensory-Rich Outdoor Space for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia and their Caregivers, Kaitlyn May and E. Adel Herge, OTD, OTR/L FAOTA
Deepening What Matters: The Feasibility and Effectiveness of an Occupational Therapy Collaborative Approach to Conducting the Annual Wellness Visit in a Geriatric Primary Care Setting, Ciera M. Osborne; Dominique Gousset; and Tracey Vause-Earland, PhD, OTR/L, FNAP
Using the Partnering for Change Model to Guide Occupational Therapy Interventions that Optimize Cafeteria Programming and Related Service Referrals for Kindergarten Students in a Suburban Philadelphia School District, Caitlin Pluta; Victoria DiCampli; and Mary Muhlenhaupt, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Changing with the Times: Telehealth Delivery of Occupational Therapy Using Ayres Sensory Integration® for Autistic Children, Natalie R. Schiano and Roseann C. Schaaf, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Promoting Immigrant and Refugee Health & Wellness: Community-Based Occupational Therapy Home Visit & Community Navigation Program in Primary Care, Aseel Shehadeh; Ilyse Kramer; and Stephen B. Kern, PhD, OTR/L, FNAP, FAOTA
The Future of Occupational Therapy in an Evolving Healthcare System, Claire Tarzia; Hannah Galpin; Marissa Hendrixson; Nicolette Macri; and Tina DeAngelis, EdD, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA
Promoting Positive Healthcare Experiences: Implementation of Sensory-Friendly Vaccine Clinics for Autistic Children, Molly M. Weaver and Roseann C. Schaaf, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Occupational Therapy Programming in Jewish Early Childhood Centers, Lisa Zolotnitsky and Jordan Crisci
Submissions from 2022
Empowering Individuals with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva: Designing Assistive Devices via an Embedded Interdisciplinary Education Program Between Occupational Therapy and Industrial Design, Kyndra Adams; Andrew Berger; Kimberly S. Mollo, BFA, OTD, OTR/L; Tod Corlett, MID, IDSA; and Eric Schneider, BFA, MS, IDSA, RSA
Outcomes of the NuroSleeve and Occupational Therapy on Upper Extremity Function of an Individual with Chronic Stroke: A Case Report, Jeremy P. Armstrong
Engaging Stakeholders as Advisors on the Design of a Large-Scale Calibration Study of the Spinal Cord Injury Movement Index (SCI-MI) Item Pools., Olivia M. Biller and M J Mulcahey, PhD, OTR/L, FASIA
SENSE-able teams: Interdisciplinary perceptions of supports and barriers to implementing sensory-based interventions in early intervention classrooms, Margaret Booth; Kathleen Carr; Alex Logue, OTD, OTR/L; and Lydia Navarro-Walker, OTD, OTR/L, CLA
Autism-Friendly Vision Exams: An Adapted, Evidence-Informed Manual to Support Individualized Sensory Interventions in Vision Centers, Rachel Boyer and Roseann Schaaf, Phd,OTR/L/FAOTA
Reshaping Perspectives: Exploring Occupational Therapy's Role in Servicing Individuals from Historically Marginalized Groups and Environments, Iris W. Burns; Adair Sanchez; and Tina M. DeAngelis, EdD, MS, OTR/L
Refinement of a Bucket of Spinal Cord Injury Movement Index (SCI-MI) Items for Administration Acutely After Spinal Cord Injury, Martha K. Childress and M J Mulcahey, PhD, OTR/L, FASIA
Examining the Feasibility of Incorporating the Virtual Dementia Tour into Healthcare Education, Sarah Dever and E. Adel Herge, OTD, OTR/L FAOTA
OT student Perspectives: Exploring factors contributing to success, Chelsea E. Fagan; Madeline Humphries; and Rebecca Sinko, MS, OTD, OTR/L, CLA
Addressing Loneliness and Chronic Disease Management in Older adults: Piloting the Liberating Loneliness Program in Primary Care, Bethany Lin and Tracey Vause Earland, PhD, OTR/L,FNAP
Supporting Autistic Individuals in Healthcare: Development and Implementation of Evidence-Based Trainings on Sensory Needs, Danielle Lynn and Roseann Schaaf, Phd,OTR/L/FAOTA
Evaluating Progress: Perceptions and Assessments in an Intensive Pain Rehabilitation Program, Hal Martin; Miranda Powers; and Allison Giannone, OTD, OTR/L
From Seeds to Roses: Cultivating OT Practice Though a Coaching Approach, Katherine Sailor; Natalie Coronado; and Marie-Christine Potvin, PhD, OTR/L
Making Space for Occupational Therapy in Collaborative Mental Health Care, Anabelle Scalora; Sam Sutton; and Tina M. DeAngelis, EdD, MS, OTR/L
Supporting Families of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities/Downs Syndrome and Dementia: A Resource Program, Sydney Smith and E. Adel Herge, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Occupational Therapy's Role in Serious Mental Illness, Sam Sutton, Anabelle Scalora, and Tina DeAngelis
Supporting Caregivers of Older Adults Managing Chronic Conditions Using an Occupational Therapy Approach, Sarah Yemane, Ed.M and Tracey Vause Earland, PhD, OTR/L, FNAP
Submissions from 2021
Redefining Sensory Preferences: Outcomes from a Pilot Design Collaboration for Individuals Living with Intellectual Disabilities to Promote Access, Awareness, and Acceptance in the Community through the Community Sensory Profile (CSP), Christopher Acquafredda; Kimberly S. Mollo, OTD; Elizabeth Shirrell, MFA; Sarah McNabb, MEd, OTD; Michael Barrett, OTD; and Lydia Navarro-Walker, OTD
Breaking Barriers: The Role of Occupational Therapy for Individuals Who Are/Have Been Unhoused, Alexa Arnold; Carly Black; and Tina DeAngelis, EdD
Spinal Cord Injury Movement Index (SCI-MI):Development of an Item Pool Amenable to Administration Early after Spinal Cord Injury, Hannah Dalton and M J Mulcahey, PhD
Neuroplastic changes as a result of coaching: A narrative review, Giulia Heydeman and M J Mulcahey, PhD
Cooking Up Skills for Independent Living: Promoting Engagement through Inclusive Design for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Cynthia Jih; Kimberly Mollo, OTD; Elizabeth Shirrell, MFA; Sarah McNabb, MEd, OTD; Michael Barrett, OTD; and Lydia Navarro-Walker, OTD
Understanding the Resettlement Experience of Newcomers in Philadelphia: Identification of Meaningful Daily Life Activities – Furthering Image Development and Item Tracking, Zoe Kress; Molly McKim, MA; and Stephen Kern, PhD
The Liberating Loneliness Program: An Evidence-Informed Protocol for Addressing Loneliness Among Older Adults in Primary Care, Alissa Laham and Tracey Vause-Earland, PhD
Exploring the Impact of Individualized Action Plans on Feelings of Loneliness and Self-Efficacy Among Older Adults in Primary Care, Mary Kate Lyons and Tracey Vause-Earland, PhD
“I could really use this”: Learning coaching in a non-traditional fieldwork setting, Alexis Morales; Erin West; and Marie-Christine Potvin, PhD
Designing a sensory friendly environment to enhance participation in healthcare for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Lady Rios-Vega; Roseann Schaaf, PhD; and Amy Carroll, OTD
Supports and opportunities for neurodiversity inclusive practices at Jefferson, Caitlin Rosica; Roseann Schaaf, PhD; and Amy Carroll, OTD
Usefulness of the NTG-EDSD: Evaluating the Validity of a Screening Tool for Dementia in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities, Margaret Ryan; Allison Tuso; and Adel Herge, OTD
Wellness Oriented Regulation Toolbox for a Healthier You (WORTHY): An Accessible Tool for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities with a foundation in Inclusive Design, Mishayla Smith; Kimberly Mollo, OTD; Elizabeth Shirrell, MFA; Sarah McNabb, MEd, OTD; Michael Barrett, OTD; and Lydia Navarro-Walker, OTD
WE-ROOT: Planting Seeds Together to Promote Social Participation and Physical Wellness in Youth with Psychosis, Caitlin Taylor; Sarah Zagorac; and Tina DeAngelis, EdD
