Faculty Bios

The Department of Occupational Therapy is comprised of 9 tenured and tenure-track faculty and 14 lecturers. The Occupational Therapy faculty has a long history of commitment to the profession through research, leadership, and service. They are excellent teachers, experienced clinicians, and nationally recognized leaders and scholars in the profession. They have received national recognition and have been awarded the title of Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA). Additionally, two previous faculty members were also honored with the prestigious Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award. A descriptive information of faculty bios are listed below

Department Chair

• Jerilyn (Gigi) Smith, PhD, OTR/L, SWC, FAOTA

  • Professor Gigi Smith has special advanced education and training in the evaluation and treatment of swallowing disorders which is one among many areas of expertise that she brings to her position in this department. She graduated with her B.S. in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University. She also adds to her distinction as being among the first graduating cohort of the Distance Master's program at SJSU. She was named the 2006 Graduate of the Last Decade for the College of Applied Sciences and Arts.  Dr. Smith completed her PhD at Trident University.  Her research was in the area of autism, sensory processing and feeding and eating behaviors.  Dr. Smith has authored and co-authored chapters in Pedretti's Occupational Therapy: Practice Skills for Physical Dysfunction and Cara & Macrae's Psychosocial Occupational Therapy: A Clinical Practice. She has presented locally, nationally, and internationally on dysphagia and the role of occupational therapy in treating swallowing disorders. Dr. Smith is currently the Vice President for the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC), and was a member of the Commission on Practice for the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). She also serves the department as the Graduate Coordinator/Advisor and is the Student OT Association (SOTA) Advisor. She has a clear commitment to SJSU serving on multiple department, college, and university committees and most recently elected to the Academic Senate representing the College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS).

    Dr. Gigi Smith (SJSU OT alumna with a BS in 1979, MS in 2001) was inducted to the Roster of Fellows and awarded Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA) at the AOTA Annual Conference in 2017. This award is made in recognition of her: Excellence in Practice, Exemplary Service, and Mentoring. She was also Honored Lecturer for the Califonia Foundation of Occupational Therapy in 2018.

    Dr. Smith is the Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy and as such is responsible for all administrative and personnel issues concerning the faculty and students of this department. These include: hiring and supervision of faculty, budget, department resource allocation, scheduling, and supervision of staff, and is the representative of this department on various College and University committees. She serves as our liaison to the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education in matters of accreditation, certification of students, and compliance with Standards.

Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty

• Lynne Andonian, Ph.D, OTR/L

  • Professor, Lynne Andonian earned a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Boston University, a M.A. degree in Industrial Design from the Pratt Institute, and a PhD in Organizational Systems from Saybrook University. She has over 30 years of clinical experience, primarily in mental health, in a variety of settings including inpatient hospitals, outpatient partial hospitalization programs, public schools, and community-based settings. Dr. Andonian has also worked with people with disabilities in Zambia and Uganda and has taught in Finland. She has presented nationally and internationally on her research interests that include community advocacy for underserved groups, people with mental illness, emotional intelligence, and international education. She is on the Scholarship Committee of the Psychiatric Occupational Therapy Action Coalition (POTAC) and is on the Editorial Board for the Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Journal.
    Selected  Works of Dr. Lynne Andonian

• Luis Arabit, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCN, BCPR, C/NDT, PAM, FAOTA

  • Associate Professor Luis de Leon Arabit earned his Doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Saint Augustine, Saint Augustine, FL; his Masters of Science degree in Rehabilitation Sciences from Texas Tech University, Lubbock TX; and his Bachelors’ of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of the Philippines, Manila. He is an accomplished and experienced occupational therapist with a demonstrated history working in the hospital and healthcare industry with specific focus on neurorehabilitation, orthopedic clinical practice and administration/management. 

    Dr. Arabit was the immediate past Supervisor of Occupational Therapy and Leadership Coordinator of Pediatric Rehab and The Cleft Palate Program at Adventist Health White Memorial, Los Angeles, CA. He is Board Certified in Neurorehabilitation & Physical Rehabilitation and holds certifications in NDT, PNF & the Affolter Concept. Dr. Arabit was a past Vice-President of the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC), a former Chair of the OTAC Advocacy & Government Affairs Committee and a former Chair of the Los Angeles Occupational Therapy Leadership Forum. He was the recipient of the 2013 Luella Grangaard Political Action award from OTAC and the 2016 Janice Matsusuyu Outstanding Service award. In 2023, he was once again the recipient of the Luella Grangaard Political Action award from OTAC, holding the distinction and honor of being the only occupational therapist to have received this award twice. Dr. Arabit received a Service Commendation award from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) in 2022 and was the recipient of the 2024 AOTA Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Occupational Therapy.

    In 2020, Dr. Arabit was named Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA), an honor reserved for occupational therapists who have contributed significantly to the field. He was selected to receive the 2020 Distinguished Lectureship Award from the Asian-Pacific Heritage Occupational Therapy Association (APHOTA) and was also chosen as the 2020 Honored Lecturer by the California Foundation for Occupational Therapy (CFOT). Dr. Arabit is a published author, writer and speaker at state, regional, national and international OT conferences. He currently serves as the Region V Director and Board member of the American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC) and is the Co-Chair of The AOTPAC Ambassadors. He is also a Board member and the Philippine Cultural Liaison of the Association of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Occupational Therapy (AAPI-OT).

• Deborah Bolding, Ph.D, OTR/L, FAOTA

  • Research
    Dr. Bolding has been the author or co-authored works related to juvenile arthritis, functional mobility, splinting, habilitation, fieldwork education, evidence-based practice, motor control, and obstructive sleep apnea. Currently, she has two primary research interests: aging on the go (inclusive of safety and mobility in the home, local, and global communities), and professional development of occupational therapy students and practitioners.
    Selected  research authored or presented by Dr. Bolding may be accessed via the ScholarWorks Gallery.

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    Professional Experience
    Associate Professor Deborah Bolding has been a full-time faculty member in the Department of Occupational Therapy at San José State University (SJSU) since 2016. She was the coordinator of the post-professional master’s program in occupational therapy at SJSU from 2012-2015. As an occupational therapist, she has extensive professional experience with persons with injury and illness in settings ranging from the emergencey department and intensive care unit to rehabilitation, home health, and out-patient settings (with emphasis in trauma and neurologial problems). She currently practices in community-based fall prevention for older adults.

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    Education
    Dr. Bolding earned a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Florida, a Master of Science degree from Boston University, a post-master’s certificate in Health Professions Education from Simmons College, and a PhD in Education from Capella University. She is licensed as an occupational therapist in California with qualifications in hand therapy, physical agent modalities, and swallowing.

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    Awards
    Honored Lecturer by the California Foundation for Occupational Therapy (2015)
    Roster of Fellows award from the American Occupational Therapy Association (2014)
    Fieldwork Educator Award from the Occupational Therapy Association of California (2006)

• Megan C. Chang, Ph.D, OTR/L, FAOTA

  • Professor Megan Chang earned her Ph.D. in Occupational Science, M.S. in Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology, and M.A. in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California, and B.S. in Occupational Therapy from the National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan. She completed a clinical training program and received certification in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). Her research interests include using psychophysiological approaches to study sensory processing, emotion, and cognition as well as examining psychosocial and physiological risk factors associated with health-related behaviors and occupations in various populations. She has clinical experience in a variety of settings including her most recent work in the fields of physical dysfunction and pediatrics. She is a Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) programmer and has worked several years as a biostatistician. Inspired by her previous mentors, she is passionate about teaching future therapists not only to improve their skills but also to actively engage in research activities in order to collaboratively strengthen the knowledge base of Occupational Therapy.

• Chiao-Ju Fang, Ph.D, OTR/L

  • Dr. Chiao-Ju Fang is an Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy with a distinguished background in academia and clinical practice. She holds a PhD and MA in occupational therapy from New York University (NYU) and a BS in occupational therapy from National Taiwan University. With extensive experience working in hospitals, schools, and early intervention programs, Dr. Fang has served individuals with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disabilities in the United States and Taiwan. Her cross-cultural background has enriched her research and practice and provided her with a unique perspective on global healthcare challenges in occupational therapy.

    Dr. Fang’s research centers on utilizing advanced technologies to improve healthcare outcomes for individuals with disabilities. With expertise in quantitative methods and data science, she explores the integration of artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction into rehabilitation. She has been awarded prestigious grants, including the 2023 AOTF Implementation Grant, the 2023 SJSU RSCA Seed Grant, and the 2021 CFOT General Research Grant. Dr. Fang has actively presented her research at national and international conferences, been invited as a guest speaker, and shared her expertise with the broader rehabilitation community. Her contributions to occupational therapy are reflected in her peer-reviewed journal publications, her role as a reviewer for prominent journals, and her involvement on doctoral and master's reading committees.

    Dr. Fang’s research interests focus on developing AI-driven assistive technologies, advancing telehealth interventions, and creating psychometrically sound tools to assess activities, participation, and environmental supports for individuals with disabilities, particularly in cross-cultural contexts. She also explores behavior prediction through advanced statistical modeling, aiming to provide more personalized and effective interventions. In her spare time, Dr. Fang enjoys music, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

• Melisa Kaye, EdD, OTR/L

  • Assistant Professor Melisa Kaye earned a Bachelor and post-professional Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at San Jose State University and a Doctorate in Education at the University of San Francisco. She was a member of the design team that developed a MA degree program in Educational Technology at the University of San Francisco. Her research interests rest at the intersections between education and clinical practice and include multimedia learning application, leveraging technology to enhance healthcare education, sensory processing and integration, trauma-informed care, and the development of cognitive and perceptual skills in children.

    Dr. Kaye has extensive pediatric experience and is the founder and director of Firefly Center: Therapy Services for Children, a clinic in Burlingame, CA. She is passionate about partnering with children and their families to address a range of developmental, psychosocial, self-regulatory, and learning challenges. She mentors entry-level therapists and presents locally, nationally and internationally on topics related to occupational therapy education, sensory processing and integration, and school readiness. She is the Leadership and Management coordinator for the Children and Youth Special Interest Section of the American Occupational Therapy Association.

• Katrina M. Long EdD, MS, OTR/L

  • Assistant Professor Katrina Long earned her EdD in movement science and education, specializing in occupational therapy, from Columbia University (CU) in New York City, her MS in occupational therapy from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and a BA from California State University Channel Islands. Prior to joining SJSU, Katrina served as a clinician, lecturer, and researcher at Columbia University for 7 years.  She has presented at regional, national and international conferences, and has peer-reviewed publications. While pursuing her doctorate, she was awarded a number of grants and scholarships including the Columbia University Dean’s Grant for Student Research and Provost’s Grant for Conference Presentation. Dr. Long has worked at CU’s Neurorehabilitation Research Lab as a research coordinator and as a consultant at the Neurological Institute at Columbia University Medical Center. Her clinical experience has focused primarily in the areas of Parkinson’s Disease (PD), stroke, and Cerebral palsy. Dr. Long is passionate about holistic health and movement of the human body. Her research interests include: (1) assessments and interventions for individuals with neurological diseases and disorders, such as PD; (2) motor control and motor learning processes in both healthy individuals and those with neurological disorders; (3) behavioral interventions that facilitate and optimize the formation of health-promoting habits and routines as part of an effective self-management program. Dr. Long aims to develop effective interventions that improve functional abilities and quality of life for people with motor control impairments through occupational therapy and skill-based interventions. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, cycling, figure skating, skiing, yoga, and cooking.

• Graham Teaford, OTD, OTR/L

  • Assistant Professor, Dr. Graham Teaford is an occupational therapist with clinical experience working with older adults in community settings. He earned his BS degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University in 1997 and completed his post-professional MS in OT from SJSU in 2003. He completed the Low Vision Rehabilitation Graduate Certificate Program at the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) in 2018 and doctorate in occupational therapy from UAB in 2022. In 2016 he completed executive certificate in home modification program from USC, and in 2020 AOTA specialty certification in low vision (SCLV). He has been a faculty member at SJSU since 2008, and has taught courses in neuro-rehabilitation, occupational therapy with older adults, clinical practice in occupational therapy, fieldwork practicum and seminar, and infusing occupation in clinical practice. His research interests include neurological assessment and intervention, fall prevention for older adults, community aging, home modification, low vision rehabilitation, ethics, and community based occupational therapy programs.

Lecturer Faculty

• Cesar Arada, OTD, MHS, OTR/L, PAM, SWC

  • Fieldwork Coordinator and lecturer, Cesar Arada earned his post professional clinical doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OT) from University of Alabama Birmingham with a graduate certification in Low Vision, his MHS degree in Health Care Services from Washington University in St Louis, Missouri and his Bachelor of Science in OT from the University of the Philippines. Licensed in CA with certifications in Physical Agent Modalities & Swallowing, he has over 30 years of clinical experience working with the geriatric population, holding senior management positions. His passion includes OT program development for older adults  (fall prevention, wellness, feeding and swallowing, positioning, contracture management and splinting, and dementia). His expertise includes Medicare and SNF State regulations, compliance, quality assurance and clinical education. He continues to clinically practice at geriatric, neuropsychology and low vision settings, and currently serves as a Rehab Consultant for therapy providers.

• Courtney Boitano, OTD, OTR/L, BCBA-D

  • Lecturer Courtney Boitano earned a BA in Psychology at Santa Clara University, and has completed her MS in Occupational Therapy and OTD at the University of Southern California. In addition, she has earned a doctoral degree as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst from the University of Western Florida.

    Courtney has over 15 years experience working in a variety of pediatric settings and school based practice. Her clinical practice focuses on children with developmental disorders and parent support. Courtney’s research interests include Lifestyle Redesign for the family of a child with a disability and educating parents on infusing occupational therapy concepts into the daily life of typically developing children. She has also begun conducting research on the stress and self-efficacy of unhoused families in San Jose. As an OTD candidate at USC, Courtney was awarded the University Neighborhood Outreach grant for her OTD Lifestyle Redesign obesity prevention program. Courtney has presented at the OTAC conference on Bringing Life to OT for Parents and Caregivers of Toddlers and co-presented at AOTA 2008 on priority practice areas for the 2017 Centennial Vision. She also contributed to authors Barbara Hanft and Jayne Shepherd’s text, Collaborating for Student Success: A Guide for School Based Occupational Therapy as a student enrolled in USC OS/OT’s School-Based Grant program. Courtney has served on the board of the Blind Children’s Learning Center in southern California and the Los Gatos- Saratoga Observation Nursery School. In her spare time, Courtney loves spending time with her two active children and enjoying all that California has to offer with the mountains, redwoods, and beach.

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    Invited Talks and Presentations
    Schultz-Krohn, W. & Boitano, C. (2022).
    “Fostering Imaginative Play to Support Development.” Short Course, Occupational Therapy Association of California and California Association for the Education of Young Children, Santa Clara, CA.

    Schultz-Krohn, W., Boitano, C., Javaherian, H. and Torres, E., (2022). Occupational Justice for Underserved Populations: Panel Discussion, OTAC Annual Meeting- Keynote Address, Occupational Therapy Association of California, Santa Clara, CA.

    Schultz-Krohn, W., Boitano, C., Kaplan, M., Nuckolls, M. and Weseloh, H., (2022). Collaborative Programs for Unhoused Families: Occupational Therapy's Role." Occupational Therapy Association of California, Santa Clara, CA.

    Boitano, C. (2022) "Bringing OT to Life for Parents and Caregivers of Toddlers." Occupational Therapy Association of California, virtual.

    Publications
    Boitano, C., Henry, B., Jeng, G., Jimenez, A., Powell, J. & Shibata, K. (2024). Response to intervention: The effects of tier 1 and tier 2 occupational therapy intervention on sensory processing for fifth-grade children. Journal of Occupational Therapy, School, & Early Intervention, 1-14. 

    Featured in Wagenfeld, A. & Marder, S. (2024). Nature-based allied health practice: Creative and evidence-based strategies. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

    Daniels, C. (2008). H.E.L.P: The healthy eating, living, and playing program. Unpublished doctoral thesis, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.

    Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) poster presentation Response to intervention: The effects of tier 1 and tier 2 occupational therapy intervention on sensory processing for fifth-grade children, November 2023.

    Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) annual conference presenter on The Doctoral Capstone Journey, November 2024.

    Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) annual conference presenter on Advancing Occupational Therapy’s Role in Tiered Response to Intervention, November 2024.

    Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) poster presentation Response to intervention and Teacher Collaborations’ Impact on Kindergartners’ Sensory Processing, November 2024.

• Choi Chio, OTD, MSOT, OTR/L, PAM

  • Lecturer Choi Chio earned a Bachelor and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at San Jose State University and a post professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy with aging elective at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. Dr. Chio has over 10 years of experience working as an occupational therapist and fieldwork educator primarily in different geriatric settings including Subacute Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities, Independence Living Facilities, adult day care center, outpatient service, and home health care. She served as a Roster of Accreditation Evaluator from ACOTE for three years. She is enthusiastic about aging in place and developing different intervention programs for optimal treatment outcomes. Dr. Chio is passionate about teaching occupational therapy students with practical and functional techniques in assisting clients with physical, neurological, and/or cognitive disabilities and comorbidities. Her research and clinical interests include the interventions and outcome measures for post-acute rehabilitation in older adults, clinical reasoning and modification for patient safety, effectiveness of occupational therapy involvement in caregiver training at different settings, and preventative care in occupational therapy.

• Bonnie Dundee, MS, MPH, OTR/L

  • Bonnie Dundee (she/they), MS, MPH, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist trained right here at San Jose State University and with a public health degree from San Francisco State University. Since 2017, Bonnie has been part of an interdisciplinary primary care team at Stanford Health Care, where she works with patients facing complex medical conditions. Specializing in somatic approaches to pain and functional mobility, she is passionate about the role of critical awareness and social solidarity in enhancing both individual and collective health.

    In her primary care role, Bonnie designs group classes that unite patients around shared health challenges, aiming to diminish health-related isolation and stigma while fostering individual power and collective efficacy. She is also engaged in an international collaboration to explore an emancipatory framework for occupational therapy practice. Bonnie is keen to grapple with the contradictions between capitalism, health, and healthcare, and looks forward to discussing these ideas and strategies for challenging the status quo with the next generation of occupational therapists at SJSU. And she could not do any of this without the love, inspiration, and support of her beautiful queer family and community.

• Alison George, MS, OTR/L

  • Alison George has been a lecturer at San Jose State University (SJSU) for over 25 years. She has clinical expertise in providing occupational therapy services to adults with physical disabilities as well as early intervention services to children with special needs. She has taught a variety of courses while at SJSU but the focus of her teaching has been in functional kinesiology, occupational therapy practice and the occupational therapy clinics (physical disabilities and well-elderly). In addition, Lecturer George is a contributing author to three chapters in the internationally recognized textbook, Pedretti's Occupational Therapy: Practice Skills for Physical Dysfunction (8th ed). She currently serves as the Co-Chair for the Student Leadership Committee for the Occupational Therapy Association of California.

• Yvonne Golembeski, OTD, MA, OTR/L, C/NDT, ECHM

  • Lecturer Yvonne Hoang Golembeski earned a B.A. in Psychology at University of California - Los Angeles, M.A in Occupational Therapy and post professional OTD at University of Southern California. Her clinical experience includes inpatient-ICU, surgical, telemetry; acute rehab; and outpatient settings for adult populations. She currently works as an occupational therapist at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto. As an adjunct professor at West Coast University in Los Angeles, Yvonne taught occupational therapy evaluations and assessments, as well as basic patient care skills. Her passions (related to OT) are gamification in education, universal design and environmental accessibility, sustainability, and aging in place.

• Renee Gorth, OTR/L, MBA

  • Lecturer Renee Gorth received both her BS degree in Occupational Therapy and MBA degree from San Jose State University and is a native and lifetime resident of the San Jose bay area.  She has worked within many fields of OT, including acute and subacute rehabilitation, assisted living, and home health.  

    Renee is currently working as a school based pediatric occupational therapist and has over 20 years of experience working with students ages 3-21 years.  She received her Assistive Technology certification from Cal State Northridge and enjoys using both low and high tech supports with students and within a variety of classroom settings.  

    Another area of focus for Renee is advocacy through OTAC and its administrative credential initiative, which would allow access to leadership and administrative roles for pediatric occupational therapists practicing within schools.  

    During her free time Renee enjoys spending time with her family and friends, golfing, running, gardening and cooking.  

• Christine Haworth, MA, OTR/L

  • Christine Haworth earned her BS and MA in occupational therapy from the University of Southern California. She has 10+ years of clinical experience, primarily in community-based mental health with disenfranchised adolescents, but has also worked in pediatrics and geriatric home health. As an occupational therapist, Ms. Haworth also served in the Peace Corps in Paraguay, where she worked to facilitate social skills development within juvenile detention facilities, developed programs to enhance community awareness of disabilities, and established programs for female empowerment. She is also the co-author of a dynamic assessment of occupational performance skills called the Double OT, which has been acquired by a publisher. She and her colleagues are in the process of conducting research on the assessment tool and have presented on it both nationally and internationally. Ms. Haworth maintains an ongoing clinical practice at OTTP-SF. 

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    Publications

    Haworth, C., Cyrs, G., & Shea, C. (2023).
    Initial Validity and User Experience of a Dynamic Assessment of Occupational Performance for Transitional Age Youth. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 11(2).

    Shea, C., Jackson, N., & Haworth, C. (2019).
    Serving High-Risk Youth in Context: Perspectives from Hong Kong. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 7(3), 1-16.

    Haworth, C. (2019).
    Occupational Therapy in a Community-Based Justice Setting. In C. Brown, V. Stoffel, & J. Munoz (Eds.). Mental Health Occupational Therapy: A Vision for Participation (2nd ed.). (pp. 626). Philadelphia, PN: F.A. Davis Company.

    Haworth, C. & Cyrs, G. (2017).
    Supporting transitions to the workforce for at-risk youth: Developing and using an occupation-based work skills assessment. OT Practice, 22(15), 21-24.

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    Invited Talks and Presentations

    Kaye, M. & Haworth, C. (2022).
    “Clients in Crisis– Showing Up and Nurturing Resilience.” Short Course, Occupational Therapy Association of California, Santa Clara, CA.  

    Kaye, M. & Haworth, C. (2021).
    “Active Engagement Strategies for Virtual Practice & Education.” Short Course, Occupational Therapy Association of California, virtual.  

    Haworth, C. & Cyrs, G. (2018).
    “Development, implementation, and research of an occupation-based assessment of work skills for at-risk youth.” Poster Presentation, World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress, Cape Town, South Africa.

    Haworth, C. & Cyrs, G. (2016).
    “Development of an Occupation Based Job Readiness Assessment Targeting Youth Involved in the Justice System.” Short Course, American Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Chicago, IL.  

    Haworth, C. & Cyrs, G. (2015).
    “Occupational Therapy Assessment Activities for At-Risk Youth.” Invited Presentation, San Jose State University Occupational Therapy Department. San Jose, CA.

    Devine, C., Gordon, K., Cyrs, G., Haworth, C., Nañez, C., Jackson, N… Chawla, R. (2014).
    “Productive Occupations for the Well-Being of At-Risk Youth in San Francisco.” Invited Presentation, Psychiatric Occupational Therapy Action Coalition. San Francisco, CA.  

• Hiral Khatri, OTD, OTR/L

  • Lecturer Hiral Khatri is the CEO and Founder of OT Park - a center for occupational, sensory, and behavioral therapy services in the form of virtual, in-person therapy, and chief provider of get-at-your-home activity-box. Dr. Khatri has a vast experience working as an Occupational Therapist in both India and the USA bringing her global knowledge to bring innovation and enrichment in her therapy and teaching. Dr. Khatri earned her doctoral degree in occupational therapy from the University of St. Augustine, FL and her bachelors of science degree in occupational therapy from Gujarat University, India. She is  an experienced occupational therapist with the history of studying and working in Asia's largest hospital, Civil Hospital of Ahmedabad  (India) as Chief OT in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, with specific focus on neurorehabilitation, spinal cord injury treatment settings, pediatrics, gynecology, burns and plastic surgery, and ergonomics. She enjoyed providing her occupational therapy knowledge to the medical professionals such as Anesthesiologists, Dentists, Gynecologist and Physical therapists to run Pain Clinics successfully in the same hospital. She presents vast experience of treating clients in homecare and community settings. She has worked for a long time as a pediatric occupational therapist here in the Bay area. 

    Dr. Khatri has been awarded as one of the "Top 100 Healthcare Visionaries" for the year 2021 for her constant and tireless efforts in finding innovative care provisions for the community. 

    Apart from the being the maestro of an online and in-person therapist, Dr. Khatri is a passionate leader in the profession and chairs different leadership positions at the state and national levels. She Chairs the Membership committee of the Asian Pacific Heritage OT Association (APHOTA); she is the Director Elect for Region 3 of the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC); and she is an ambassador for California for American Occupational Therapy Political Actions Committee (AOTPAC). 

    Dr. Khatri likes teaching and has always been an active educator in sharing knowledge to students and clinic owners in her home country through webinars and summits. She has been a mentor to immigrant students who aim to study in the states. She is an experienced speaker at various national and international conferences and workshops. 

    She is an evidence-based researcher and a serial reader. She loves to travel and drink coffee and she likes to write blogs in her free time. Dr. Khatri is a passionate Californian who loves beaches and mountains as her favorite hang-out places. She is a people person who loves to visit events, share and gain knowledge and meet like-minded people and family.

• Jean Koketsu, OTD, MS, OTR/L

  • Lecturer Jean Koketsu, OTD, MS, OTR/L graduated from University of California Los Angeles with a B.A. in psychology, from SJSU with an M.S. in occupational therapy, and from Eastern Kentucky University with an OT clinical doctorate.  She has 25 years of experience working as an OT in a variety of settings.  The first half of her career was in a large rehabilitation hospital in San Jose where she gained experience in inpatient rehabilitation, acute care, burn rehabilitation and outpatient hand therapy.  That earlier experience was fertile ground to develop skills as an OT to help people to meet their occupational needs after serious illness and disability.  The second half of her career has been spent working in community practice settings such as the REACH Program in Palo Alto, CA and as a lecturer at SJSU.  She currently works at as an occupational therapist at On Lok Lifeways and helps older adults age in place.  She is passionate about teaching future occupational therapists to provide skilled and compassionate care.  Her current research and clinical interests are in the area of sleep, restorative occupations, and routines.  Most recently, Lecturer Koketsu revised the Activities of Daily Living chapter and the chapter on the Occupation of Sleep and Rest in the newest edition of Pedretti’s Occupational Therapy: Practice Skills for Physical Dysfunction.

• Kristen Krumanaker , OTD, OTR/L

  • Lecturer Dr. Kristen Krumanaker earned a BS in Human Development and Family Science from The Ohio State University and an OTD from the University of Toledo. She also studied at the Foeldi Clinic in Germany where she earned her Certification in Lymphedema Therapy.

    Dr. Krumanaker has served the profession as both a clinician and educator. First, she worked at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center as an outpatient therapist working with discharged NICU babies to young adults. While there, she developed an intensive, upper extremity training program using the first Armeo®Spring Pediatric in the United States. She was a member of the Cerebral Palsy Clinical Specialty Committee and Planning Team and has presented research findings at local, national, and international venues.

    Dr. Krumanaker is also a dedicated educator and recently earned her Certification in Effective College Instruction from the Association of College and University Educators. Prior to her relocation to the Bay Area, she taught in Cincinnati State’s OTA program and served as the lead instructor for an array of courses including pediatrics, clinical foundations, and professional development.

    In her leisure time, she is a busy mom of two and enjoys Pilates, hiking, reading and anything at the beach or in the mountains!

• Lea Le, MS, OTR/L

  • Lecturer Lea Le, MS OTR/L graduated from San Jose State University with a Masters in Occupational Therapy. She has over 9 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist at the Mental Health Association of San Mateo County, a non-profit organization that provides community-based mental health services. There, she works with adults who have experienced chronic homelessness and live with mental and physical health conditions to increase their participation in occupations and maintain housing. Her interests include mentoring students, completing the AOTA Fieldwork Educators Certificate Workshop in 2018 and has supervised many Fieldwork I and II interns. She is passionate about advocacy and involvement within the profession, currently serving on the OTAC Advocacy and Government Affairs Committee and as the Northern California Representative for Psychiatric Occupational Therapy Action Coalition. In addition to occupational therapy, Lea enjoys coffee, playing basketball, collecting records, and being a mother to her two young children, Theo and Ella. 

• Rochelle McLaughlin, MS, OTR/L

  • Rochelle McLaughlin is the founder and lead instructor for SJSU’s Advanced Certificate in Applied Mindfulness. She earned an MS in Occupational Therapy from SJSU in 2000. She received her certification to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) from the University of Massachusetts Medical School's Center for Mindfulness. 

    Rochelle is seeking her Ph.D. in Transformative Social Change, has completed advanced studies in Humanistic Psychology, and is a certified yoga instructor. She has taught MBSR to several hundred participants both nationally and internationally and she regularly leads classes on integrating mindfulness as a stabilizing presence for social change interventions.

    Rochelle has experienced and witnessed the integration of mindfulness meditation as an extraordinary healing balm for the heart, body, mind, and soul as well as a practice of transforming relationships with self and other.

    Rochelle’s teachings are rooted in her own embodied experiences of the transformative power of mindful awareness and she is inspired by the collaborative journey of weaving mindfulness into our lives as a way to ground us in the face of uncertainty and help facilitate the more just and beautiful world we all know in our hearts is possible.

• Sarah McPeak MA, OTR/L, C/NDTA, C/PAM

  • Lecturer Sarah McPeak earned a BA in Sport Science from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California.  She has 15 years of clinical experience working as an occupational therapist.  Her passion is adult neuro-rehabilitation.  Sarah has worked in a variety of settings including acute rehabilitation, acute care, outpatient, and home health including community re-integration.  Sarah is a clinical specialist at a company that focuses on stroke rehabilitation products, and she provides instruction regarding clinical integration.  She also works as a clinical coordinator, managing and coordinating individual client services.  Her certifications include Neuro-developmental Treatment Certification for Adults with Hemiplegia and Physical Agent Modalities Certification.  She is also a Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist.  In 2013 she completed her Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Educator Certification.  Sarah has taken great joy in providing education to and collaborating with occupational therapy students both in the classroom and out in the field.

• Uyen P. Nguyen, OTD, OTR/L

  • Lecturer Dr. Uyen Nguyen received her Bachelor’s degree in 1997 and post-professional Master’s degree of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2005 from San Jose State University. She completed the certification program in Low Vision Rehabilitation in 2011 and a Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

    Dr. Nguyen has been working in school-based practice since 1998 where she provides OT services to students with special needs from 3-21 years of age. She completed 200 hours of yoga teacher training and has become a certified yoga instructor since 2016.

    She has been an active member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the World Federation of Occupational Therapy. She has been a CAP (Critically Appraised Paper) reviewer for AOTA Evidence Exchange. She served in the school-based OT task force in Santa Clara County, California to help promote best practices in the school setting, and has worked with colleagues in reviewing and presenting OT guidelines for school-based practitioners in Santa Clara County, CA. Dr. Nguyen is a co-author and co-presenter of the continuing education course “School-Based OT Outside of the Box: More Efficient, More Effective, More Practical and Fun”.

    Dr. Nguyen’s passion is to provide needed services to the pediatric population, especially in the educational environment, nationally and internationally. She has been involved in international occupational therapy through volunteer work for Children’s Hope In Action, a non-governmental organization in Vietnam, and previously helped lead the San Jose State University Faculty-Led Program to Vietnam.

• Karen Pickett, MS, OTR/L, SWC

  • Lecturer Karen Pickett received her BSOT and MSOT at San Jose State University. Her career of over 30 years has included psychiatry in locked, community and acute settings. In addition Karen has practiced OT in physical disabilities acute care, SNF and Acute Rehabilitation. She has also been a supervisor of OT, PT and SLP services in acute care hospital setting. Karen’s Master’s Thesis was in the area of occupational performance and chronic pain. She is passionate about occupational therapists embracing all of their skills related to physical, cognitive and psychosocial components of occupational performance. Karen has co-presented at OTAC on pre-vocational skills for individuals with serious mental illness and co-presented a poster at AOTA on cognitive assessment in acute care. In her role at Stanford, she continues to function as a resource for others in the area of cognitive assessment as well as educating medical residents about occupational therapy.

• Winifred Schultz-Krohn, Ph.D, OTR/L, BCP, SWC, FAOTA

  • Professor Schultz-Krohn (Dr. Wynn) has over 30 years of experience working with children. She is Board Certified in Pediatrics by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and is certified in Swallowing by the California Board of Occupational Therapy. She served on the Pediatric Panel of AOTA for Board Certification in Pediatrics for several years. Wynn has also served as a member of the ASPIIRE (Association of Service Providers Implementing IDEA Reforms) Cadre of AOTA disseminating information about revisions to the federal law related to early intervention and school based practice: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Wynn is a professor of occupational therapy at San Jose State University where she teaches courses in pediatrics, neuro-rehabilitation, and research methods. Dr. Schultz-Krohn’s scholarly interests include pediatric occupational therapy with expertise in early intervention, school-based practice, family centered intervention, the needs of children and families in homeless shelters, feeding problems, and neurological rehabilitation. She was selected to be a member of the Teacher-Scholar SJSU group in 2003-2004. She continues to practice in pediatric occupational therapy on a part-time basis at a non-profit clinic and for the past 20 years she has provided pro bono services at a family homeless shelter. Her donation of professional services was recognized in the Fall of 2011 and she was awarded a regional Jefferson Award for her volunteer efforts in supporting the families of the most vulnerable in our community. Her continued volunteer work with homeless families was recognized by the California Foundation of Occupational Therapy when she was awarded the Humanitarian Award in 2017. Dr. Schultz-Krohn has a commitment to shared governance and has served as an elected Senator to the SJSU Academic Senate for over 10 years.

    Dr. Schultz-Krohn was recognized by her peers and was the Honored Lecturer for the California Occupational Therapy Foundation in 2012. She was chosen as the Outstanding Professor of San Jose State University for the 2013-2014 Academic Year. She is the co-editor of the 6th, 7th, 8th and upcoming 9th Edition of Pedretti’s Occupational Therapy: Practice Skills for Physical Dysfunction textbook in addition to authoring well over 20 articles and chapters. Dr. Winifred Schultz-Krohn serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Occupational Therapy in Early Intervention and Schools and is a reviewer for the American Journal of Occupational Therapy and the Occupational Therapy Journal of Research. She is the past Chair of the AOTA Commission of Continuing Competence and Professional Development, and currently serves as Chair of the AOTA By-laws, Policies, and Procedures Committee. The AOTA represents the interests and concerns of occupational therapy practitioners and students of occupational therapy, while striving to improve the quality of occupational therapy services. The organization represents 60,000 members. Dr. Wynn served as Chair of the Occupational Therapy Department from 2015 -2020, successfully guiding the program through the major accreditation process in 2015-2016 and then submitting the comprehensive accreditation report in Spring of 2020.

• Michelle Tipton-Burton, MS, OTR/L

  • Lecturer Tipton-Burton earned both her BS and MS in Occupational Therapy at San Jose State University. She has over 32 years of clinical experience in various physical disability settings. Her clinical specialty lies with neurological disorders and traumatic brain injury. This area of expertise has her lecturing nationally on various topics related to brain injury. Her research interests include seating and positioning with neurologically involved individuals as well as cognitive orthotic devices to assist those with memory and planning deficits. She has written chapters in several occupational therapy textbooks including most recently the 8th edition of Pedretti's OT for physical dysfunction.  Lecturer Tipton-Burton will be teaching the physical disabilities clinic course.

• Lisa Westphal, MS, OTR/L

  • Lisa Westphal MS, OTR/L is a graduate of San Jose State University’s Master of Science in occupational therapy program. For the last 15 years, Lisa worked as an occupational therapist in a variety of hospital-based and outpatient settings primarily serving adult neurologic populations. Lisa is Neuro-Ifrah certified, holds advanced practice certification in physical agent modalities, and is a Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist. Lisa has presented research posters at AOTA and WFOT. In 2014 she was invited to Aso Iizuka Rehab College in Japan to present her research on Occupational Therapy’s Role in Early Mobility in the ICU. Lisa enjoys conveying her extensive clinical knowledge to students so that she can help them along their journey to becoming effective occupational therapy clinicians.

• Kathryn Wise, OTD, MHSc, OTR/L

  • Lecturer Dr. Kathryn Wise earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Waterloo, her BHSc (OT) from McMaster University, MHSc (Health Administration) from the University of Toronto and her Doctor in Occupational Therapy (OTD) from Boston University. Dr. Wise has been an Occupational Therapist for over 20 years with most of her clinical work in the area of pediatrics and supporting children between 0-6 years of age.   

    Dr. Wise is passionate about creating new and effective learning experiences for health professionals and is passionate about interprofessional education. She is also a passionate healthcare leader where she has taken on a variety of management and leadership positions supporting interprofessional teams across the healthcare continuum including home care and hospitals. Her areas of research interest include leadership, healthcare management, health professional education, work-life integration, curriculum design, online learning, technology and innovation, and international health care systems. Dr. Wise has served on the board at San Jose Parents Participating Nursery School and is currently a board member of the Bay Area’s Women’s Healthcare Executive Network.