Sharon Cermak, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Dr. Cermak's research program is in the areas of cognitive-perceptual, perceptual motor and sensory integration deficits in children and in adults with brain damage. Her research with children focuses on developmental dyspraxia and in sensory processing and modulation. Currently, her interests are reflected in the following research projects:

Research with Children:
1. Sensory processing in post-institutionalized children.
2. Development of a test of motor planning.
3. Handwriting in children with learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
4. Tactile contributions to praxis.

Dr. Cermak is the co-editor of the book, Developmental Coordination (2001).
 
 

Ellen S. Cohn, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Dr. Cohn utilizes qualitative methods to understand children and families' perspectives of personal, contextual and occupational characteristics that support or inhibit successful social participation in school and in the home. She has published several papers on broadening the focus of occupational therapy intervention to include family perspectives in all aspects of service delivery. Her current work explores parents' perspectives of successful participation in elementary school children with disabilities. She is particularly interested in working with graduate students to specify how 'participation,' and related constructs, in relation to children with disabilities, has been defined in the literature. Related areas of interest focus on understanding outcomes of occupational therapy using sensory integration approaches, occupational therapy interventions for families of children with ADHD, and understandings of occupational development across the life span. She is currently collaborating with Dr. Alexis Henry to conduct a program evaluation of a 10 week program, Families and Schools Together (FAST), designed to facilitate the building of relationships for middle school children with their own families, peers, schools and communities.
 
 

Wendy Coster, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Dr. Coster's primary research concern is with the social context of disability and intervention with children. Currently, this interest is reflected in four on-going research projects. Examples of recent studies related to each of these projects are listed after the description below.

1. Development of standardized functional assessments for children with disabilities: the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and the School Function Assessment.

• Patterns of functional development in children with varying disabilities.
• The relation between functional skills and level of caregiver assistance provided.
• The relation between functional task performance and participation in school activity settings.
• Functional performance of children with emotional/behavioral disorders in elementary school.

2. Functional outcome of children with varying impairments.

• Patterns of motor performance in children who have sustained a traumatic brain injury.
• Relation between the child's functional performance and family stress after a traumatic injury.

Karen Jacobs, EdD, OTR/L, CPE, FAOTA

Dr. Jacobs' research examines the interface between the environment and human capabilities. In particular, she has examined the individual factors and environmental demands associated with increased risk of functional limitations among populations of adult workers and middle school aged students, particularly in computing. These factors include not only physical health and performance variables, but also psychosocial variables such as the personal meaning and value the individual attaches to his or her occupation. Presently, she is conducting a three-year epidemiological study on musculoskeletal discomfort with computer use in middle school children.

She participated in a research project using the Families and Schools Together (FAST) program. The program was a 10-week multi-family program designed to enhance family communication and family involvement with the school. The goals of the research were to understand the experiences of parents and middle-school children who participate in a FAST program and to evaluate the effectiveness of the FAST program.
 
 

Gael I. Orsmond, PhD

Dr. Orsmond's research is focused on autism during adolescence and adulthood and the impact on parents and siblings. She is currently collaborating with colleagues from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Brandeis University on a 5-year longitudinal study of 400 families that include an individual with autism who is 10 years or older. She is currently focusing her investigation on:

1. The developmental trajectory of autism symptoms through adolescence and adulthood.

2. The social and recreational activities of adolescents and adults with autism, and the factors that promote or interfere with participation in these activities.

3. Sibling adaptation to having a brother or sister with autism during adulthood.
 
 

Linda Tickle-Degnen, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Dr. Tickle-Degnan's primary research program is concerned with the interaction between therapist and client. Major interest is in determining how rapport develops between individuals, particularly related to nonverbal communication. Currently, this interest is reflected in the following on-going research projects:

1. The development of rapport in health professional-client relationships.

2. The effective communication between people with Parkinson's Disease and others in social and health-care settings.
 
 

Elsie R. Vergara, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Dr. Vergara's research interest focuses on two major areas: (1) developing and assessing the effectiveness of early intervention self-study training programs; and (2) assessing the effectiveness of occupational therapy intervention with neonates, infants, and toddlers. She is particularly interested in the long-term effects of premature infant positioning. Currently, her interests are reflected in the following research projects:

1. Long-term effects of a prone positioning device for premature infants.
2. Rate of developmental progression across various domains in premature infants receiving early intervention.
3. Effectiveness of a self-study early intervention training program on developing advanced clinical skills for occupational and physical therapists.
 

FACULTY EMERITUS

Anne Henderson, PhD, OTR, FAOTA

Dr. Henderson continues her contact with the doctoral program through participation in research seminars and by serving on dissertation committees. Her writing is in the areas of spatial abilities, hand function, and activities of daily living (ADL's). Dr. Henderson is the founder of the Doctoral program at Sargent College, Boston University.
 
 

Catherine Trombly, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Her research program had the following four emphases:

1. Examination of the assumptions underlying occupational therapy for persons with physical dysfunction with special emphasis on examining the assumptions related to motor control and learning. Electromyographic, videotape, and kinematic instrumentation, as well as clinical observation tools, are used.
2. Delineation of the relationship of components of function to functional performance.
3. Determination of the effectiveness of occupational therapy processes for restoration of function for patients with stroke.
4. Measurement of outcomes of outpatient occupational therapy for patients with traumatic brain injury. 

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