Xavier OTD Students Present at OOTA Conference
April 17, 2026
Xavier OTD Students Present at OOTA Conference
Seven students in the Class of 2026 did poster presentations of their Scoping Review at the Ohio Occupational Therapy Annual Conference. Maria Brophy, Maia Lynch, Kirsten Pride, Kathleen Cagle, Cora Pack, Abby Childress, and Al Henry.
Rooted in Xavier’s commitment to cura personalis and developing leaders for others, our Occupational Therapy Doctoral students continue to demonstrate excellence in scholarship and service. We are proud to share that several Xavier Occupational Therapy Doctoral students presented posters at the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association (OOTA) 2025 Conference, Strength in Unity: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities, held October 17–18 in Columbus, Ohio. Led by Faculty mentors Dr. Leah Dunn, Dr. Barbara Elleman and Dr. Carol Scheerer, these students showcased the depth and diversity of occupational therapy practice, highlighting evidence-informed approaches across a range of populations and settings:
- Maria Brophy – Treatments for Premenstrual Disorders within the Occupational Therapy Scope of Practice
- Kathleen Cagle – Cultivating Wellness: Interventions Enhancing Healthy Eating and Food Literacy in Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Abby Childress – Culturally Responsive Care in Allied Health
- Al Henry – Occupational Therapy’s Role in Supporting Transgender and Gender-Diverse Clients
- Maia Lynch – Occupational Therapy and Support for Women Experiencing Domestic Partner Violence
- Cora Pack – Therapeutic Interventions for Infants with Congenital Muscular Torticollis
- Kirsten Pride – The Role of Occupational Therapy in Juvenile Detention Centers
These presentations reflect our faculty and students’ commitment to advancing evidence-based, inclusive, and impactful occupational therapy practice. We congratulate them on this outstanding achievement and look forward to their continued contributions to the profession.