When Brooke Dexheimer, Ph.D., OTD, OTR/L, joined VCU Occupational Therapy, she built her research program around a deceptively simple question: How do we learn to move? Her newest grant – a $75,000 pilot award from the VCU Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center – takes that question deeper than ever before, quite literally.
Nearly 1 in 30 people worldwide live with lymphedema, a chronic and often debilitating condition that can complicate daily activities and increase risks for infection. Yet few occupational and physical therapists receive specialized training to identify and address it early.
A delegation of Ukrainian health professionals visited the VCU College of Health Professions in early November as part of the Congressional Office for International Leadership’s Open World Program, a 10-day exchange that connects global leaders with American institutions.
Kerry Mader, OTD, OTR/L, CLA, c/NDT, assistant professor in the VCU Department of Occupational Therapy, was named among the inaugural recipients of the university’s Excellence in Pedagogical Innovation Award (EPIA) on September 10. The new honor recognizes faculty who transform the classroom with creative, research-informed strategies that deeply engage students.
When Timothy Rich, Ph.D., OTR/L, describes spatial neglect — the complex, often hidden cognitive condition he studies — he starts with a simple statement: “Imagine ignoring half your world without realizing it.”
On a warm fall afternoon, 19-year-old Cameran Pickett rolled to the edge of a quiet fishing pond, slipped his forearm into a custom brace and cast a line farther than he ever expected he could again. The arc of that cast – powered by his left arm and much determination – marked far more than a return to a hobby.
Distinguished graduates from throughout the university will be recognized at a private ceremony Oct. 25. Caitlyn Berry earned her master’s degree in occupational therapy from the VCU College of Health Professions in 2015. Berry, one of this year’s 10 Under 10 honorees, has built her career in disability services.
Sometimes, the smallest things can make the biggest difference. For Caitlyn Berry, a handful of tiny dinosaur erasers – symbols of encouragement she once handed to struggling marathoners – became a metaphor for the power of occupational therapy.
When they step into the simulation lab on the second floor of the College of Health Professions this fall, students will find it has undergone considerable changes. Thanks to a $108,000 allocation from the Higher Education Equipment Trust Fund, it now features a more immersive, hands-on training environment that reflects the evolving demands of modern health care.
Virginia Chu, Ph.D., OTR/L, is celebrating a dual milestone: her promotion to tenured faculty and a grant from the VCU Division of Community Engagement. The associate professor in VCU’s Department of Occupational Therapy and director of the Sensorimotor Performance and Rehabilitation Engineering (SPRE) Lab works at the forefront of understanding sensorimotor development in early childhood.
Lynne Hollaway, an occupational therapist and clinical instructor at the University of Central Arkansas, recently completed her doctoral degree through the VCU College of Health Professions’ Ph.D. Program in Health Related Sciences. Her research is already having a positive impact in the field of pediatric occupational therapy.
From the Desk of the Chair
Carole Ivey, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Caitlyn E. Berry, ’15, M.S., OTR/L, has received both our department’s Jayne Shepherd Making a Difference Alumni Award and the College of Health Professions' 2025 Dean’s Outstanding Service Award.
This past spring, members of the Class of 2024 didn’t just complete their senior capstone projects. In this work, our latest graduates demonstrated what it means to be agents of change.
In June, the next generation of occupational therapy innovators wrapped up their intensive three-week design course with a burst of creativity and purpose at the annual OT Design Fair.
As VCU’s OT Academy wrapped on a Friday in mid-June, 12 participants sat in the College of Health Professions, eating lunch and laughing, surrounded by their recently completed Lego creations. They had been tasked with creating visual representations of their progress since the program’s first day.
From the Desk of the Chair
Carole Ivey, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Department, campus and national scholarships are supporting occupational therapy students in tuition support, as well as earning accolades for their research and fieldwork.
An innovative training and mentorship program that brings together future occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech language pathologists can better prepare them for careers in school-based practice – and transform educational experiences for students with disabilities.
Bringing a focus on holistic health approaches, Glenda Watkins, OTD, OTR/L, NASM-PES, assistant professor of occupational therapy, has joined a team supporting the Mobile Health and Wellness Program (MHWP), an innovative care model for older adults in underserved communities across urban and rural Virginia.
Focusing on individuals with an average of 3.5 chronic conditions, MHWP aims to improve their health outcomes, reduce costs and promote independence through customized care plans developed collaboratively with faculty and students across various health professions. It is supported by several Health Resources and Services Administration grants, including the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP).
As the new dean of VCU’s College of Health Professions, Amy R. Darragh, OTR/L, Ph.D., FAOTA, is tapping into her extensive background as a leader and as an occupational therapy researcher to continue elevating research and learning experiences within the college’s highly acclaimed OT program.
As we head into 2025, there’s much to be excited about in the VCU Department of Occupational Therapy. To start, we celebrate that the new dean of our College of Health Professions is Dr. Amy Darragh, an occupational therapist by specialty and a nationally recognized researcher in pediatric neurorehabilitation, team science and virtual technologies. We know she will help shine a spotlight on the many great things underway at both our department and across the college.
A VCU occupational therapist, Brooke Dexheimer, Ph.D., OTD, OTR/L, is a co-investigator in a groundbreaking multi-site study, funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), to understand motor learning and brain stimulation in patients recovering from neurological injuries and stroke.
Nguyen, M* (class of 2024)., Ivey, C., & Andelin, L. (2024). Using a capstone experience to enhance inclusion and accessibility for individuals with sensory processing disorders. AOTA Sensory Integration & Processing Special Interest Quarterly. https://www.aota.org/publications/sis-quarterly/sensory-integration-processing-sis/sipsis-11-24
3 questions, 2 minutes, 1 lesson with Carole Ivey and Glenda Watkins, who co-lead a course with occupational therapy graduate students that might have you rethinking James Bond and Marvel movies.
We are thrilled to announce that our department has moved up in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, climbing to #14! This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence in education, research, and community engagement. We are proud to celebrate this milestone with our dedicated faculty, hardworking students, and supportive alumni.
At the Department of Occupational Therapy’s Pinning and Hooding Ceremony, Deanna Dambrose, OTD, OTR/L, QMHP-A received the Jayne T. Shepherd “Making a Difference” Alumni Award in recognition of her service to the field and the department.
Congratulations to Grad II Ashley Gros for receiving an AOTF Virginia Occupational Therapy Association Fred Sammons Endowed Scholarship. Ashley is so deserving of this highly competitive scholarship. Ashley is an exceptional individual who embodies the qualities and potential that the AOTF Scholarship seeks to nurture and support.
Brooke Dexheimer, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Virginia Commonwealth University College of Health Professions Department of Occupational Therapy, has been awarded a grant from the 2024 VCU Quest Fund.
As we embrace the vibrancy of spring, I am thrilled to share some exciting updates and upcoming events from the Department of Occupational Therapy at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Occupational Therapy students Anne Franklin (left) and Erika Poole (right) (both Class of 2025) competed in the final round of the 2023-2024 International Interprofessional Case Competition, as part of separate interprofessional teams made up of learners across professions from institutions all over the world. This year's I2C2 event had 62 students from 11 universities in multiple countries assigned to 12 interprofessional teams representing a wide range of health professions managing a complex medical condition. The teams competed virtually to resolve a complex clinical case, and Erika’s team won the competition!
Dr. Virginia Chu was recently honored as part of the VCU inaugural class of National/International Recognition Award (NIRA) scholars. Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, created the NIRA in partnership with Marlon Levy, M.D., interim senior vice president for VCU Health Sciences. The award honors VCU faculty members who were nationally or internationally recognized for exceptional accomplishments during their current evaluation period. Dr. Virginia Chu, seen here with Dr. Ben Darter, Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, were the recipients from the College of Health Professions.
Dr. Stacey Reynolds was recently awarded an Applied Research Grant from the Organization for Autism Research (OAR). The project entitled Improving Access to Community-Based Occupations via a Rideshare Training Program is a 1-year project to train autistic adults to use Rideshare services (e.g., Uber, Lyft). “Transportation options are limited for those with divergent social, sensory, and cognitive abilities. This project will train autistic adults to use Rideshare services to better access leisure and employment opportunities in the Central Virginia area,” says Dr. Reynolds. This program was originally developed with a capstone OTD student (Ginger Belongia, OTD 2022) in the Department of Occupational Therapy. The training modules are freely accessible at the Safe Rideshare Program website This grant project is in collaboration with Alissa Brooke from the Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (VCU-RRTC).
The VCU Occupational Therapy department will be at AOTA INSPIRE | 2024 Annual Conference & Expo. With 18 sessions, an alumni reception (Friday), and the awards and recognition ceremony (Saturday), there are many opportunities to connect with us. Hope to see you there!
Brooke Dexheimer, Ph.D., OTD, OTR/L has been awarded a Shirley Ryan AbilityLab research grant as part of the C-STAR Pilot Project Program to support her research quantifying fine motor deficits in early-stage Parkinson’s Disease.
The College of Health Professions expert recently completed a long-delayed Fulbright fellowship in Malaysia.