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Students honored with scholarship, program awards

“My first endeavor was working as a student representative for the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT), where I developed the Authors and Issues discussion points based on that month’s selected article and helped facilitate discussions with authors. I also am a research assistant, supporting several faculty members on projects related to elder abuse, ADL/IADL assessments, social isolation and inflammatory bowel diseases. These opportunities have helped me stay current with emerging literature, while also strengthening my ability to engage in meaningful dialogue with members of the OT community. As a dual-degree student pursuing both her OTD and Ph.D. in Health Related Sciences, this scholarship will support my development and continued research beyond graduation."

Same class. New stories. 40 years later.

On a beautiful fall weekend, October 18–21, 2025, former Virginia Commonwealth University occupational therapy classmates—most of whom had not seen one another since graduation—returned to Richmond to celebrate the 40th anniversary of earning their Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy.

In Memoriam: Fred Sammons

We are deeply saddened to share that Dr. Fred Sammons passed away on November 17, 2025. Dr. Sammons was a graduate of the occupational therapy program at the Richmond Professional Institute (RPI) Class of 1955 (RPI and the Medical College of Virginia merged in 1968 to become Virginia Commonwealth University).

Ukrainian delegates visit CHP to explore clinical practices

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.

Mader receives VCU Excellence in Pedagogical Innovation Award

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.

‘I can still do the things I want to do’

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.

‘Tiny dinosaur moments’ mark 2025 OT Vesting Ceremony

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.

PhD grad advances research on caregiver engagement in autism interventions

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.

OT Academy opens doors for aspiring clinicians

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.

Focus on holistic health approaches!

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).

Dean Darragh brings leadership, research to new role at VCU

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.

Translational research and growing rankings set the table for OT success in ‘25

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.

Celebrating Excellence: Climbing the Ranks and Achieving New Heights!

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.

Ashley Gros receives prestigious AOTF Fred Sammons Endowed Scholarship

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. 

VCU Occupational Therapy Student on winning Interprofessional Case Competition Team

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! 

Congratulations to Dr. Virginia Chu on receiving a NIRA award!

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 receives Applied Research Grant to Improve Access to Community-Based Occupations via a Rideshare Training Program

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).