Department: Occupational Therapy

Department: Occupational Therapy

Combined Doctor of Occupational Therapy/PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences (OTD/PhD)

The Occupational Therapy department offers a 6-year combined Doctor of Occupational Therapy/PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences (OTD/PhD) Program for students with exceptional academic promise and strong motivation for a career in research. This program builds on the professional education in the Entry-Level OTD program, providing students PhD training to pursue a research and academic career. Developed […]

Neeha Patel, OTD, OTR

Scholarly, Research, and/or Practice Interests Neeha Patel, OTD, OTR/L, works in pediatric private practice in New York City. Patel has worked with children – from birth through adolescence – and their families in a wide variety of settings, including sensory gyms, home and center based early intervention, public and private schools, early childhood mental health, […]

Nicole Villegas, OTD, OTR

Scholarly, Research, and/or Practice Interests Nicole Villegas’ (they/she) practice promotes social justice and wellness through occupational therapy approaches in academic, mental health, and workplace settings. Her clinical career began in non-profit community-based HIV care and has expanded to interprofessional integrative teams, consultation, and speaking. Nicole is the founder of the Sensory Conscious® Approach, providing services […]

Karen Duddy, OTD, OT, OTR

Scholarly, Research, and/or Practice Interests Cclinical practice with adolescents and adults in mental health settings and with adults and geriatric populations in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, adult day health care and outpatient hand therapy; currently the supervisor of the OT department at the VA Long Beach, where she has been employed since 2002. Karen became […]

Linda Niemeyer, PhD, OT

Scholarly, Research, and/or Practice Interests Over a span of more than 25 years, Dr. Niemeyer practiced in the areas of pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation, work injury prevention and management, and wheelchair mobility. She has been active in the American Occupational Therapy Association and part of a grass roots movement to improve the evaluation and treatment of […]

Liat Gafni-Lachter, OTD, PhD, OTR

Scholarly, Research, and/or Practice Interests Liat Gafni-Lachter is an occupational therapist practicing with children and families in outpatient settings. She has been an academic mentor at the Boston University Post-Professional Online Occupational Therapy Doctorate since 2016. Dr. Gafni-Lachter’s research and scholarly pursuits include promoting professional expertise in family-centered care, telehealth, mentoring, and the scholarship of […]

Nancy W. Doyle, OTD, OTR

Scholarly, Research, and/or Practice Interests Working with students with learning and sensory differences in school and pediatric clinic settings; since 2006, Nancy has been involved in online occupational therapy education at Boston University as a doctoral student, online facilitator, and course instructor. Evidence-based online education, constructing inclusive learning opportunities, and the evolution of telehealth in […]