淫妻社

2025 scholarly project and capstone presentations for the degree of occupational therapy doctorate

淫妻社 Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) students presented their final projects in partial fulfillment of their doctoral degrees, Tuesday, April 29^th; Wednesday, April 30^th; and Thursday, 2025.听

Scholarly Project Presentations
Capstone Presentations

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Presentations were held in the Collier Building on the Health Science Campus in six time periods, each with two concurrent sessions.听 Each presenting student was allotted 15 minutes with five for discussion (questions and comments welcomed and encouraged). Presentations were recorded via an in-room lecture capture system.听

curriculum design

A curriculum is both an artifact that transmits time honored values, beliefs, and principles and a dynamic framework to meet contemporary and future societal and professional needs. The faculty of the 淫妻社 Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) Program plan, implement, and systematically evaluate the OTD curriculum using four organizing elements: Practice, Advocacy, Research, and Autonomous Decision Making (PARADM). The curriculum prepares occupational therapists who are competent, ethical, and life-long learners.

scholarly projects

The 2018 Standards for an accredited educational program for the Occupational Therapist, officially adopted by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, require that graduates of OTD programs have the ability to design and implement a research study.听 In conducting an individualized research project, the OTD student learns to appreciate the process of scientific inquiry and gains valuable insight for evidence-informed practice.听 Working with their faculty advisors, OTD students conduct research that advances knowledge and practice in occupation-based therapeutic approaches.听 Scholarly project presentations represent the culmination of a 12-credit hour course series.听 Written disseminations of each project are available through the catalog of Mulford Library.听

capstone experience

Given dynamic patterns of occupational therapy practice, the future will require therapists to be autonomous decision-makers. The Capstone Experience prepares OTD students by allowing them to plan and pursue a highly individualized semester of study at a self-selected site.听 The student receives mentorship of an on-site mentor as well as an academic faculty mentor. The capstone experience is introduced and planned throughout the didactic curriculum. It occurs as a 12-credit-hour course load in curriculum鈥檚 final semester, after 24 weeks of full-time supervised fieldwork.听 It is a full-time, 15-week, on-site experience including practicum with a major project, mentored studies, and a written dissemination.听 Capstone project types reflect the PARADM curriculum design, including Case Study, Program Development Plan, Program Modification Plan, Course Development, Advocacy at the Organizational Level, Advocacy at the Journal Level, and Research. Written disseminations of each project are available through the catalog of Mulford Library.

For questions, please contact听alexia.metz@utoledo.edu

Class听of听2025 scholarly project presentations

Joint Presentation

Juliana Allan, Kaleigh McCormick, and Madison Pearl

Scholarly Project Presentation

Research Advisor: Alexia E. Metz, Ph.D., OTR/L

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Joint Presentation

Carolyn Contonio, Emma Kennedy, Shiloh Reynolds, and Hannah Waite

Scholarly Project Presentation

Research Advisor: Beth Ann Hatkevich, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

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Joint Presentation

Allison Drees, Lauren Fiorletta, Morgan Rieman

Scholarly Project Presentation

Research Advisor: Sarah Long, Ph.D., AT, ATC

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Joint Presentation

Tatum Dusseau-Johnson and Kierra Meyer

Scholarly Project Presentation

Research Advisor: Nicole Stotz, Ph.D., OTR/L

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Joint Presentation

Kayla Kindle-Bunch, Addison Kittel, and Samantha Stanley

Scholarly Project Presentation

Research Advisor: Laura Schmelzer, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

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Kelsey Kitchel

Scholarly Project Presentation

Research Advisor: Laura Schmelzer, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

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Joint Presentation

Nicole Langenderfer and Kelsey Martz

Scholarly Project Presentation

Research Advisor: Laura Schmelzer, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

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Class听of听2024 capstone presentations

Juliana Allan

Capstone Presentation, Advocacy Plan

Site: Northwest Ohio Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Site Mentor: Lisa Langhals, MFN, RDN, LD

Faculty Mentor: Nicole Stotz, Ph.D., OTR/L

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Carolyn Contonio

Capstone Presentation, Advocacy Plan

Site: 淫妻社, Human Resources

Site Mentor: Payton Beechler, MBA

Faculty Mentor: Beth Ann Hatkevich, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

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Allison Drees

Capstone Presentation, Program Development Plan

Site: Stroke Life Center

Site Mentor: Cindy Roshon

Faculty Mentor: Lindsay Riegle, OTD, OTR/L

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Tatum Dusseau-Johnson

Capstone Presentation, Program Modification Plan

Site: Concept Rehab

Site Mentor: Traci Witherspoon, OTR/L, Director of Clinical Development听

Faculty Mentor: Nicole Stotz, Ph.D., OTR/L

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Lauren Fiorletta

Capstone Presentation, Program Development Plan

Site: Christ the King Parish

Site Mentor: Dave Nuss, Reverend, Catholic Priest, Pastor

Faculty Mentor: Beth Ann Hatkevich, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

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Emma Kennedy

Capstone Presentation, Program Development Plan

Site: We Rock The Spectrum - Cleveland

Site Mentor: Taylor Boggs, OTD, OTR/L

Faculty Mentor: Alexia E. Metz, Ph.D., OTR/L

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Kayla Kindle-Bunch

Capstone Presentation, Program Development Plan

Site: Family House

Site Mentor: Johnathan Nichols, MPA

Faculty Mentor: Laura Schmelzer, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

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Kelsey Kitchel

Capstone Presentation, Case Study

Site: The Ohio State University Dublin Outpatient Rehabilitation

Site Mentor: Cheryl Albrechta, MOT, OTR/L, BCPR

Faculty Mentor: Laura Schmelzer, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

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Addison Kittel

Capstone Presentation, Advocacy Plan

Site: Black Paw Canine

Site Mentor: Benjamin Brockway M.T.

Faculty Mentor: Alexia E. Metz, Ph.D., OTR/L

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Nicole Langenderfer

Capstone Presentation, Program Modification Plan

Site: UTMC Kobacker Center, Senior Behavioral Health Unit

Site Mentor: Lisa Melville, MS, OTR/L

Faculty Mentor: Nicole Stotz, Ph.D., OTR/L

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Kelsey Martz

Capstone Presentation, Program Development Plan

Site: DaZy Aphasia Center

Site Mentor: Adrienne Lang, M.S., CCC/SLP

Faculty Mentor: Laura Schmelzer, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

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Kaleigh McCormick

Capstone Presentation, Program Development Plan

Site: Five Lakes Church

Site Mentor: Pastor Dan Pratt

Faculty Mentor: Beth Ann Hatkevich, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

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Kierra Meyer

Capstone Presentation, Program Development Plan

Site: Leipsic Local School

Site Mentor: Karen Gillespie, Leipsic Kindergarten Teacher

Faculty Mentor: Kelly Gelske, OTD, OTR/L

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Madison Pearl

Capstone Presentation, Program Development Plan

Site: GiGi鈥檚 Playhouse Cleveland

Site Mentor: Lizz Maxwell, Executive Director

Faculty Mentor: Kelly Gelske, OTD, OTR/L

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Shiloh Reynolds

Capstone Presentation, Dissemination Type: Advocacy Plan

Site: Toledo Public Schools

Site Mentor: Sheron Garmon, OTR/L

Faculty Mentor: Kelly Gelske, OTD, OTR/L

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Morgan Rieman

Capstone Presentation, Program Modification Plan

Site: The Meadows of Ottawa

Site Mentor:听 Lauren Schroeder, OTD, OTR/L

Faculty Mentor: Beth Ann Hatkevich, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

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Samantha Stanley

Capstone Presentation, Advocacy Plan

Site: Nationwide Children鈥檚 Hospital 鈥� Toledo Autism Center

Site Mentor: Ashley Heilman, OTD, OTR/L

Faculty Mentor: Nicole Stotz, Ph.D., OTR/L

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Hannah Waite

Capstone Presentation, Program modification plan

Site: Rehabilitation Hospital of Northwest Ohio (RHNO)

Site Mentor: Karen Vander Vlucht, OTD, OTR/L

Faculty Mentor: Ally Baar, OTD, OTR/L

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Acknowledgments

The OTD Program is happy to welcome Ms. Jill Yarberry aboard as our new secretary!

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听听听听听听听听听听听 The faculty thank the members of our 2025 advisory group for their insight and encouragement: Dr. Cindy Bouillon, Ms. Jennifer Colwell, Ms. Sarah Flores, Ms. Marianne Hassen, Ms. Katie Holman, Dr. Sarah Long, Ms. Laurie Mitchell, Dr. Eric Polz, Ms. Barb Seguine, Dr. Emily Smith, , Dr. Eileen Quinn, Ms. Leslie Vassar, and Dr. Joe Wells.

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听听听听听听听听听听听 We are grateful for the teaching and mentorship our students receive from our part-time faculty: Dr. Ally Baar, Ms. Jennifer Colwell, Dr. Lindsay Riegle, and Mrs. Rachel Stanton.

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This year, many guest speakers and lab assistants have provided valuable contributions that enrich our curriculum: Ms. Jackie Chamberlain, Dr. Carly Dauch, Dr. Mary Dumas, Ms. Tammy Eisenreich, Ms. Ashley Harmon, Mr. James Kessler, Dr. Rachel Meinert, Gabby Mosiniak, Dr. Dan Osten, Mr. Mark Ruhe, Dr. Maddy Schnabel, and Ms. Hannah Tilton.

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The American Occupational Therapy Association Vision 2030 reads 鈥淓nriching life for ALL individuals and society through meaningful engagement in everyday activities.鈥澨� Our program strives to help the profession attain this vision through excellence in occupational therapy education.听 Every students鈥� efforts in class, lab, fieldwork, and capstone shapes the course of our progress.听 Thank you to the classes of 2027, 2026, and 2025 for their diligence now and going forward.