Occupational Therapy Success Stories

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Occupational Therapy Alumni Reaching Higher

We are so proud of our Occupational Therapy alumni, students, faculty and staff! Here are a few of the success stories that we just had to share!

Hannah Lloyd (MOT ’09)

• Occupational Therapist, National Children's Hospital, Washington, DC

"After completing this program and starting a career as an occupational therapist, I was surprised at the affect the classes, professors, and peers at Saint Francis University had on my attitude and success post graduation. The OT Program prepared me not only as a therapist, but as a professional, researcher, and a holistic person to assume new roles in life. I am thankful for my experiences at SFU and encourage all to take part of this amazing program."

Christopher Stavisky (MOT ’08)

• Acute Rehabilitation Occupational Therapist, University of Rochester (NY) Medical Center

In addition to his clinical work, Christopher serves as a biomechanics consultant for the Biomechatronics Learning Laboratory at the Rochester Institute of Technology with the purpose of developing assistive technology devices that will supplement muscular activity and movement for individuals with neurological deficits and progressive muscular degenerative disorders.

“The primary diagnosis that we are targeting at this time is muscular dystrophy. It is our goal to develop a device that enables an individual who has lost functional movements of their upper extremities to regain movement independence with the aid of our device.”

Currently, the Upper Extremity Motion Analysis System, as the project is called, is able to track muscle activity through EMG signals and record joint kinematics at the shoulder and elbow. With these data, the research team will be able to create a device that will recreate movement that has been lost in the upper extremity due to muscle degeneration and/or neurological deficits.

“I feel very fortunate to be a part of the team in the Biomechatronics Learning Laboratory. Assistive technology has always been an interest of mine within the field of Occupational Therapy, and I currently have the opportunity to assist with a device’s development. This is a very exciting endeavor for which the research skills that I developed at Saint Francis University have well prepared me.”

Stephanie Kunko (MOT '06)

"The Occupational Therapy Program at Saint Francis University has helped to prepare me for my career ahead as a new Occupational Therapist to the field. The faculty has a genuine care for the students and their success. Thanks to the SFU OT Department, I know my education will take me far in the future."

Kara Leberfinger and Lauren Coleman (MOT ’06)

"We met through the MOT program at Saint Francis University, became friends, and now are both taking positions at the Center for Rehabilitation Services of UPMC as staff Occupational Therapists. Our education at SFU helped us to obtain these positions and be successful in the field of OT."