Student Opportunities and Accomplishments
As an Occupational Therapy student at Misericordia University, you will have the opportunity to work closely with faculty in research projects and presentations at national and international conferences, and faculty-led OT clinics.
Research Opportunities in OT
Student Opportunities
MSOTA - Student Occupational Therapy Association
MSOTA, the University award winning organization, stands for the Misericordia Student Occupational Therapy Association! One of the most active and service-oriented clubs on campus, MSOTA has a long list of activities including service projects and fundraising events to benefit local community and non-profit organizations. MSOTA holds service projects and fundraisers to benefit the Special Olympics, Ruth's Place, Relay for Life and the CEO Food Bank among others.
Dr. Cheryl Jayne is the MSOTA club advisor.
David A. Evans Color Run
MSOTA members and Dr. Dawn Evans at the David A. Evans Color run!
MSOTA celebrates Occupational Therapy Month
MSOTA members celebrated OT Month at Misericordia
MSOTA OT Month Speaker Night
Pi Theta Epsilon
Pi Theta Epsilon, meaning advancement in occupational therapy, is Misericordia University's occupational therapy honor society. This honor society is a national organization which recognizes the academic accomplishments of hardworking occupational therapy students. It also promotes research and scholarship among students as a means to advance the field of occupational therapy. Members of MU's Pi Theta Epsilon engage in a number of scholarly, as well as, service-oriented activities.
Pi Theta Epsilon inductees 2020
Misericordia University's Psi Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon earned the Most Valuable Player Award and placed fourth in the nation as part of the national St. Catherine Challenge that raises money for the American Occupational Therapy Foundation's research grants.
Intercollegiate Speaker Series
PI Theta Epsilon conducted these additional fund raising and service projects in 2015-2016:
- Fall Prevention
- Flea Market
- AOTA Webinars
- Fundraising
- St. Catherine's Challenge- fundraiser for AOTF (American Occupational Therapy Foundation)-Nationally ranked 5th out of all the schools that participated
- Classic Car Show
Cougars for Autism Awareness
On Campus Clinics
Fall Prevention Workshops
The Fall Prevention Program provides an evidence-based program that integrates both education and therapeutic exercises for community-dwelling well elderly. This program is available to members of the community who are age 65 and older. The Fall Prevention Program is run by faculty together with Level I Fieldwork OT students.
Sensory Social Summer Camp
The Misericordia University Occupational Therapy Department holds a Sensory Social group for children with Autism. The group is an occupational therapy sensory social group designed for children between 5 and 12 years of age. During the intensive summer camp, children are engaged in carefully designed play-based activities to promote sensory regulation and improve social skills with similar aged peers. Dr. Lori Charney, OTR/L and Dr. Orley Templeton, OTR/L along with Masters degree students from the Occupational Therapy Program facilitate the group. The group is held for 3 weeks in the summer.
Lego-Based OT Group
MU OT Program offers a Lego-Based Occupational Therapy Program designed to increase social skills of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The program is designed for children with ASD between the ages of 6 and 12 years of age. It is led by faculty members, along with, Misericordia University graduate OT students.
Student Capstone Projects
Archie's Sensory Program at Mohegan Sun Arena
As part of Peyton Breinich's , OTR/L doctoral capstone project, the Mohegan Sun Arena and the Occupational Therapy Department at Misericordia University announced the development of a new sensory services program for the arena, entitled Archie's Sensory Program.
The program will provide additional sensory services and accommodations to guests with sensory needs at events at the venue.
Archie’s Sensory Program, named for the beloved Misericordia University mascot, consists of a three-tiered, sensory services program consisting of Archie’s Sensory Stories, Archie’s Sensory Lending Library and Archie’s Sensory Den.
Tier 1: Archie’s Sensory Stories provides guests with a downloadable video guide to help provide guests with sensory challenges an advanced look at the arena and what to expect on their sensory journey to and once inside the facility for an event.
Tier 2: Archie’s Sensory Lending Library includes sensory items that can be loaned to guests at events such as fidget toys, adult and youth noise cancelling headphones, sunglasses, and wiggle cushions to help the patron regulate their sensory system while in the event space.
Tier 3: Archie’s Sensory Den provides an opportunity for patrons to step away from the busy sensory environment, regulate their sensory system and return to the show. It is located on the venue’s suite level, away from the performance space and hockey rink. The room is aesthetically calming, with muted colors, dimmed lighting, LED light-up bubble wall water fixtures, stepping stones, sensory chairs, tactile wall art and gel floor tiles. Children must be accompanied by an adult when using the room. Guests can obtain a sensory pass to utilize Archie’s Den for free at Mohegan Sun Arena’s Guest Relations Booth located behind section 110 on the venue concourse.
Peyton, along with her capstone mentor, Dr. Lori Charney, OTR/L, CAS, developed this evidenced based sensory program to promote inclusivity with a community partner. Peyton also developed a training module for event staff and is planning to draft a dissemination report to inform the OT profession about this program development capstone.
Lights, Camera, Learning! Video Modeling Program
Meet a Student
Over the last 4 years, Misericordia University Occupational Therapy Department has always encouraged me to aim high, engage in new learning opportunities and believe in my abilities as a student. The OT department has opened so many doors to my learning that I am forever thankful for. I have engaged in incredible opportunities such as completing my Level I Fieldwork right here on campus at our very own Sensory Social Camp, allowing me to fulfill my passion for pediatrics, while also embracing a new-found path for research through the Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship. None of these opportunities would have been possible without the guidance and encouragement of our faculty and staff members. Our professors have such as passion for their student’s success. Their doors are always open, they want to help when you need it and they want to see you succeed as students and future OT’s. I truly believe that the opportunities MUOT has provided me with along with the constant support and guidance from my professors has prepared me for my career as a future OT. The MUOT experience is one like no other, we are an OT family, and I will always be thankful for the people, the experiences and the knowledge this program has provided me, allowing me to grow into the student I am today!
What makes the Occupational Therapy Department at Misericordia stand out above the rest? The number one reason I will tell you is that our faculty is superior. They care so much about our academic as well as our personal well-being. Our success is their number one priority. Our professors want to know us. They impart to us the feeling and sense of family, and that we are not merely just students who are a number like many larger schools. In our department everyone knows your name. Our professors take notice when we are having a rough week and will reach out to make sure we are okay. They want to ensure that not only are we succeeding in the classroom, but we have a good occupational work/leisure balance. Our program is staffed with some of the most knowledgeable and insightful professors there are. They push us to go beyond our comfort zones to learn the necessary skills to be the best therapists possible. Their doors are always open in Passan Hall, and we are encouraged to pop in and talk to them. With the constant support of our professors, and that little bit of extra motivation from them, I feel that Misericordia has prepared me to be the best possible Occupational Therapist. I will be able to bring creative ideas, the best knowledge, and the determination to be as successful as possible. For that, I am forever thankful to our faculty. We are one big family and are all MU OT Proud.