2026 Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy Presentations
On July 27-28, twenty BU Sargent College post-professional OTD students will present their doctoral projects over Zoom. A complete list for post doctoral presentations, along with key information and zoom links, from July 27-28 is below.
Presentations on July 27, 2026 – Register through this link
9:00am-9:40am EST
Student: Laura Faye Clubok, MS, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “Overuse Syndrome Prevention for Congenital Unilateral Upper Limb Difference (CUULD)”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Christopher Goodman
9:45am-10:25am EST
Student: Helene McGovern Usher, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “Safe Home: Planning for Aging in Place”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Karen Duddy
10:30am-11:10am EST
Student: Fiona Quirk, MS, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “Supporting Autistic Students Through Neurodiversity-Affirming
Practices: A Professional Development Program for Educational Assistants”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Lauren Stone Kelly
11:15am-11:55am EST
Student: Ann Johnson, MS, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “PIPP: Partners in Preschool Practice”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Lauren Stone Kelly
12pm-12:40pm EST
Student: Deborah Snow, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “NeuroCaves: An occupation-based virtual community to help adults with neurodegenerative disease actively engage in their healthcare”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Nicole Villegas
12:45pm – 1:25pm EST
Student: Irene Constantinou, MS, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “ReMindMe: A Mobile Cognitive Support Application to Enhance Post-
Stroke Executive Function, Daily Independence and Caregiver Engagement”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Abbigail Kubiak
1:30pm – 2:10pm EST
Student: Carrie Dulaski, MS, OT/L
Presentation Title: “Foundations in Motion: A Motor Enrichment Program for General Education Kindergarteners”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Phillips
2:15pm – 2:55pm EST
Student: Karin Phillips, MS, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “Early Identification of Preschool Executive Skills Through a Multi-
Informant Screening Tool to Support All Young Learners”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Karen Jacobs
3:00pm – 3:40pm EST
Student: Maribel Perez Trujeque, MOT, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “Early Intervention Readiness Program: Preparing Families in Navigating Early Intervention Services”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Karen Duddy
3:45pm – 4:25pm EST
Student: Tabatha Gordon, MS, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “Adult Imaginative Play as Meaningful Occupation: A Proposed Autoethnographic Study of Live Action Role Play (LARP) Through an Occupational Therapy Lens”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Nicole Villegas
4:30pm – 5:10pm EST
Student: Jenna Lewis, MS, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “No Bad Kids, Just Unmet Needs: An Occupation-Based and Trauma-
Informed Coaching Program for Staff Who Serve Elementary-Aged Children in General and Special Education”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Nicole Villegas
Presentations on July 28, 2o26 – Register through this link
9:00am – 9:40am EST
Student: Erica Harvitt, MS, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “Psilocybin Therapy: Best Practices & Outcomes from an OT Lens”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Nancy Doyle
9:45am – 10:25am EST
Student: Peñafrancia Ching, MCD, OTRP
Presentation Title: “Towards Health and Re-Integration through Valued and Essential
Occupations (THRIVE): An Occupation-based Program for Stroke Survivors in Rural and Remote Communities”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Christopher Goodman
10:30am – 11:10am EST
Student: Katarina Otero, MOT, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “Rise Like a Phoenix Rehab: Increasing Access to Creative Arts as Leisure and Healing for Lower-Income Individuals in an Arts Community”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Daniel Rortvedt
11:15am – 11:55am EST
Student: Tal Arnon, MA, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “The Palliative Capacity and Advocacy Project: A Two-Prong Approach for Occupational Therapy Leadership”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Liat Gafni-Lachter
12:00pm – 12:40pm EST
Student: Julie Moretti, MS, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “Canine-Assisted Occupational Therapy: Fostering Vulnerability and Meaningful Connection in School-Age Clients”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Angela Ursillo
12:45pm – 1:25pm EST
Student: Megan Essman, MS, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “When Occupation Matters Most: Development of a Continuing Education Program for Occupational Therapy Practitioners in Hospice and End-of-Life Care”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Karen Jacobs
1:30pm – 2:10pm EST
Student: M. Jeremiah Schiffman
Presentation Title: “The OT Role in Ecological Sustainability”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Karen Duddy
2:15pm – 2:45pm EST
Student: Flora Cole, MS, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “Bridging the Gap: Occupational Therapy Practitioners as Clinical Liaisons”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Karen Jacobs
3:00pm – 3:40pm EST
Student: Kristen Humphrey, MS, OTR/L
Presentation Title: “MAP-OT (Mission-Aligned Practices in Occupational Therapy) for Graduate Admissions”
Academic Mentor: Dr. Tomeico Faison