Clubs and Services

Nine students were inducted into Misericordia's Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon, the national Occupational Therapy Honor Society, on January 31st.

Congratulations to Erin Kramer, Jenny Hopkins, Erin Rossick, Megan Vascellaro, Angela Seyler, Leeann Bower, Daniel Holbrook, Linda Frame and Alicia Canavan.

Dr. Joseph Cipriani is the faculty advisor.

MISERICORDIA UNIVERSITY STUDENT OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION
(MSOTA)

MSOTA Officers 2008

The purpose of this organization is to increase awareness of occupational therapy on campus and in the community, to increase cohesiveness among occupational therapy students, and to foster student awareness of the importance of involvement in a professional organization. SOTA also serves to reduce costs for students who attend local, state, and national professional and educational meetings; provide service to campus and community; and provide a forum for exchanging ideas and information with other student allied health organizations.

Students are expected to be active in professional organizations. SOTA leadership positions of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Class Representatives, Commission on Education (COE Representative), and ASCOTA Representative comprise the Executive Board and provide students with the opportunity to develop leadership skills. Elections are held in September, with responsibilities assumed in January. General meetings are held at least once a month, and all notices are posted.

Students in the occupational therapy program have been highly encouraged to be active in other campus clubs and organizations. To date, our students have responded admirably with leadership roles in Campus Ministry, Circle K, Student Government, and a host of other groups.

YMCA's 2008 Thanksgiving Feast

MSOTA's Homecoming Parade September 27, 2008

By: Maura Musial, OTS and Nicole Moore, OTS
After spending a week in Jamaica, we can honestly say we are changed. We left for a week in Jamaica on January 3rd , we embarked on this journey with our Theology of the church class. Out of ten students in the class four of us were occupational therapy majors (Nicole Moore, Maura Musial, Alysa Scavone, and Monica Winshel). Also traveling with us was Fr. Don Williams, Chris Somers (director of campus ministry), Virginia Conrad (Director of Alumni Relations), and six other students majoring in other helping careers. We stayed with Fr. Patrick Mwangi ,from Kenya, at the compound of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. This was an experience to remember and we had the opportunity to participate in many service activities. Our favorite was volunteering at Mustard Seed Orphanage where we helped feed children with special needs and played with children who were HIV positive. The children were so grateful and this experience allowed us to use some of the skills we are learning in our occupational therapy classes. The next day we went to St. Joseph’s Basic school and had the opportunity to interact with children ages 3-5 and learned many Jamaican games, songs, and dances! We also had the chance to meet many members of the community who were very welcoming and taught us so much about their culture. The next day was spent painting the inside and windows of the church. It was amazing to see strangers working together, as if we had known each other forever. Wednesday was spent at Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity house. Here we worked with the elderly women; we cut their nails and massaged lotion on their hands and feet. We then helped feed the women who needed assistance, and then it was time for them to rest. Thursday was spent at the beach—it was nice to have a break, and get to know everyone on the trip a little better. Friday was our last full day in Jamaica. We toured the Alpha Boys School, which is a school run by the Sister’s of Mercy. They take in boys who have behavioral problems and teach them skills such as: woodworking, book-binding, printing, farming, etc. so that when they turn 18 and re-enter the community, they can function independently in society. The teachers mentioned a need for transitioning services for the boys, which we saw as just one more place where occupational therapy could make a difference.

It was very hard to leave Jamaica and the newly formed friendships we have made. However, the people in Jamaica will always hold a place in our hearts and we can only hope we made a difference in their lives. They touched us in many ways because they are a very self-less and welcoming people. Being in Jamaica helped us realize the need for an increased awareness of occupational therapy internationally; as we witnessed multiple opportunities in which occupational therapy services would benefit the people in this wonderful country. We hope to start a collection of supplies to send over soon and also hope we will have the chance to go back again