Serving Others in Kansas City
Throughout the program, students partner with local agencies to participate in service learning related to occupational therapy. This includes teaching health and wellness to community members as well as providing care for individuals with special needs or disabilities.
These partnerships provide multiple learning and service opportunities for students. We are grateful for the local agencies who welcome the Rockhurst OT students: American Stroke Foundation, Hope Care Center, Parkinson's Foundation of the Heartland, Developing Potential, Inc., Northland Therapeutic Riding Center, Truman Medical Center - Behavioral Health, Mission Project, Parkinson's Foundation of the Heartland, Minds Matter, Lakeview Village and Sojourner Health Clinic.
Students participate in community-based service programs at St. Elizabeth and St. Peter's Catholic Schools. While here, students strive to support and promote the developmental milestones of children as they engage in play, student learning, and social participation through play and group-led activities. These programs are held on designated Fridays throughout the academic school year. All students are supervised by OT faculty members and/or staff.
International and National Fieldwork Service Immersion Trips
Ecuador
Students have the opportunity to travel to Guayaquil, Ecuador, to engage in service at the Damien House and surrounding villages. Students work in interprofessional teams alongside PT students and OT/PT faculty members to provide rehabilitation services and education to individuals with Hansen’s Disease.
St. Lucia
Students have the opportunity to travel to the island of St. Lucia with OT faculty members to engage in services with children and adults experiencing various levels of disability. Frequent collaborators on this trip include SLP students and faculty.
Colorado
OT students and faculty members travel to Colorado to partner with the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) to provide a camp for adults with developmental disabilities. Within this setting, the team helps facilitate camper engagement in new and familiar outdoor leisure activities.
Occupational Therapy Research
As part of the Rockhurst Occupational Therapy curriculum, students complete a group scholarly project under faculty mentorship. These projects are presented at a variety of venues, e.g., the Festival of Student Achievement, AOTA, MOTA and KOTA annual conferences. Current faculty projects are listed below:
Measuring the Efficacy of a Transitions I-ADL Program for Adolescents
- Mentor: Katie Ryan-Bloomer, PhD, OTR/L
Educational Preparation of Therapists to Work With Individuals With Upper Limb Differences
- Mentor: Amber Jenkins, OTD, MLS, OTR/L
Exploring Correlations between Visual Skills, Sensory Processing, and Occupational Performance/Participation with Clients Who Have Neurological Visual Impairment Across the Lifespan
- Mentor: Tammy Bruegger, OTD, MSEd, OTR/L, ATP
Multidisciplinary Early Childhood Literacy Program
- Ketti Johnson Coffelt, OTD, MS, OTR/L
Investigating the Impact of Stress on the Educational Experience in Traditional Aged Graduate Students Enrolled in Health Sciences Programs.
- Mentor: Lynne Clarke, OTD, MS, OTR/L
Impact of Culturally Effective Care on Perceptions of Professionalism in Occupational Therapy
- Mentor: Sierra Grady, OTD, MOT, OTR/L
Exploring Long-term Symptoms of COVID-19 and the Effects on Occupational Performance and Well-being
- Mentor: Sunni Alford, OTD, OTR/L, CHT
Assessing a Physical Activity Caregiver Education program at an Urban Early Education Center
- Mentor: Joan Ziegler Delahunt, OTD, MS, OTR/L