Laissez les bons temps rouler!
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) faculty and students recently attended the AOTA Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. UAB was well represented by faculty presentations beginning with a pre-conference institute titled "Experiencing the Built Environment as an Older Adult With Vision Loss" by Dr. Beth Barstow, and Dr. Gavin Jenkins.
Conversations that Matter
Three faculty were selected to lead this: Dr. Laura Vogtle for "Occupational Loss in Adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP): The Role of OT;" Ms. Sarah Tucker for "OT & the Cycle of Incarceration Crisis in the United States: How Can We Expand Our Role;" and Dr. Gavin Jenkins for "Entry-Level Practitioners: Which Skill Sets Are Essential and Which Are Desirable."
Mr. Chris Eidson and Tucker also presented a poster titled "Community Reintegration Programming to Address Occupational Deprivation and Injustice: A Student Success Story."
Awards & Honors
In addition to Dr. Mary Warren receiving the 2019 Award of Merit, other UAB faculty and alumni were presented with awards and service commendations from AOTA. They were as follows:
- Jana Cason (BSOT, 1998) Emerging and Innovative Practice Award
- Rachel Ashcraft (MSOT, 2010) Service Commendation: Policy Advisor, Trauma-Informed Care
- Sarah Blaylock (Low Vision Graduate Certificate, 2015; PhD in Rehabilitation Science, 2017) Service Commendation: Professional Development Coordinator, Productive Aging Special Interest Group
- Chris Eidson (current faculty, BSOT, and Post-Professional MSOT, 1999) Service Commendation: Member, Affiliated State Association Presidents 2017-2019
- Danielle Keyser (MSOT, 2001) Service Commendation: Member, Affiliated State Association Presidents 2017-2019
- Tonya Ann Mennem (Low Vision Graduate Certificate, 2009; Post-Professional MSOT, 2010) Service Commendation: Member, Board for Advanced Specialty Certification 2015-2018
- Julie Ann Nastasi (Low Vision Graduate Certificate, 2007) Pennsylvania Representative, Representative Assembly
UAB Alumni Reception
Friday evening, the department hosted alumni, friends and students at the Grand Isle Restaurant for our Alumni Reception. The attendance was amazing and we had more than 50 alumni from all our programs and nearly 60 students attending with faculty and other friends. It truly is amazing to see where our alumni have settled across the country and the impact they are making on the profession and their clients.