Making a difference in quality of life

The Faculty

Your future professors are accomplished professionals and scholars who have a passion for exceptional teaching. Your professors will get to know you by name, learn your strengths and goals, and take a personal interest in your success. Meet our occupational therapy faculty here:

Faculty in the Division of Occupational Therapy

Digital Literacy

The occupational therapy division strategically integrates the Digital Learning at Keuka College ([email protected]) initiative into its curriculum. Throughout your years at Keuka College you’ll learn to incorporate technology to advance your practice skills in the field of occupational therapy and understand the importance of successful engagement and how to enhance performance through the use of advanced technology.

Research

Finding, evaluating, and applying research to practice are important skills for all occupational therapy practitioners. In the OT program at Keuka College you will be introduced to “evidence-based practice” strategies from the beginning, and your ability to understand and use clinical research will grow as you progress through the program.

Students in the OT graduate program also work closely with a faculty advisor, participating in a range of scholarly activities under the guidance of an experienced mentor. Although Keuka College is a teaching college, the members of the OT faculty are committed to pursuing research and scholarship that enhances their own teaching and practice while contributing to the occupational therapy profession.

Laboratories

Keuka College has three active teaching labs, each specially designed to represent a common OT practice setting.

The Community Living Skills Lab simulates a home environment, complete with a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. Here you will learn to work with clients on functional mobility, self-care skills, and home skills.The Clinical Skills Lab includes equipment typically found in inpatient and outpatient clinics, including mat tables, splinting materials, modalities, and equipment for assessing client strength, range-of-motion, motor skills, and sensation. The Pediatric Skills Lab provides a range of motor and sensory equipment, play activities, and assessment tools used by occupational therapists working with children in school and community settings.

Professional Organizations

The Occupational Therapy program at Keuka College provides many opportunities for students to get involved and build professional skills. In addition to the college, state, and national organizations described here, all students are encouraged to participate in our dynamic Honors Program.

Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA)

SOTA is the occupational therapy student club at Keuka College and is open to all OT majors. It provides professional learning opportunities in addition to promoting a sense of fun and community connection amongst students and faculty. Members meet regularly and participate in social and educational events, fundraising activities, and community service. SOTA is sponsored by the Student Senate as an officially recognized club at Keuka College. Membership in SOTA prepares students for participation in professional occupational therapy organizations.

Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE)

Keuka College has established the Alpha Sigma chapter of this prestigious national honor society for outstanding occupational therapy students. Eligible students must have second semester junior standing, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.70, and rank in the top 30% of their occupational therapy class. PTE is sponsored by the Student Senate as an officially recognized organization at Keuka College. Members meets regularly and engage in a wide range of activities that promote scholarship, leadership, and service.

New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA)

NYSOTA is a professional membership organization open to occupational therapy students and practitioners. NYSOTA’s mission is to promote the profession of occupational therapy and to represent the interests of occupational therapy practitioners who live and work in New York. Membership dues support legislative advocacy, resources, and an annual conference.

Students are encouraged to become members of NYSOTA  and to participate in district level meetings and events. Keuka College is located within the Rochester District, however students may also participate in the district they reside in.

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

AOTA is the national professional association for the occupational therapy profession. Its mission is to set standards and provide advocacy to advance occupational therapy practice, education, and research. Membership is open to occupational therapy practitioners and students, and students receive a significant discount.  Members receive access to many professional resources, member discounts, and opportunities for engagement at the local and national level.

Award Opportunities

Future OT Practitioner Award

The Future OT Practitioner Award is presented to an occupational therapy student whose enthusiasm and interest represents an exceptional commitment to the ideals of the profession of occupational therapy.

Award for Excellence in Clinical Reasoning

The Award for Excellence in Clinical Reasoning is presented to the student who demonstrates commitment and skills in the clinical reasoning process throughout academic and practice settings.

The Occupational Therapy Award for Academic Excellence

The Occupational Therapy Award for Academic Excellence recognizes a student for their overall academic excellence as demonstrated in Grade Point Average, classroom participation, field period and field work performance and research endeavors.

Leadership in Occupational Therapy Award

The Leadership in Occupational Therapy Award recognizes a member of the occupational therapy senior class for their collaborative effort to promote the profession of occupational therapy. The award acknowledges the individual’s efforts to promote public awareness and understanding of OT at Keuka College and the community at large.

Michael A. Wiley ’00 Scholarship

Michael Wiley '00 was an Occupational Therapy student at Keuka. He was, by all reports, a fine young man, an excellent student, and excited about his chosen profession. He and his fiancée, Alissa Putnam, were killed in a car accident in March of their junior year. His parents established this scholarship to remember Michael and to help other Keuka students like him who choose to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy.

Barbara Neuhaus Scholarship

Barbara Neuhaus graduated from Keuka in 1950 with a degree in sociology. After Keuka, Barbara earned a certificate in occupational therapy, a Master’s degree in special education, and a doctorate in teaching from Columbia University. She worked as, lectured on, and taught occupational therapy throughout a long and distinguished career, winning numerous awards and commendations for her work. This scholarship is presented to honor Barbara Neuhaus– Her dedication to her profession, determination, integrity, and special humor are noteworthy.

It is hoped that this scholarship will help a senior occupational sciences major finish their studies here and embark on a career that’s just as distinguished as Barbara’s.

Peter Talty Graduate Scholarship for Occupation in Therapy

The Peter Talty Graduate Scholarship for Occupation in Therapy was established in honor of retired Keuka College occupational therapy professor Peter Talty. Peter spent 25 years at Keuka College, and is fondly remembered for his exceptional teaching and passion for the profession. This scholarship emphasizes the transformational potential of occupation, and was developed to provide financial support to a student during her or his graduate year.   

Anastasia Alisa McManus ’14 Memorial Scholarship

The Anastasia Alisa McManus ’14 Memorial Scholarship honors the memory of Anastasia McManus, who was an occupational science major at Keuka College when she passed away. This scholarship celebrates Anastasia’s passion for the OT profession and her commitment serving others. The scholarship is awarded to an occupational therapy sophomore or junior based on academic achievement, commitment to community service, and involvement in campus activities.

Field Period®

During each of your undergraduate years at Keuka College you will participate in a self designed, experiential learning opportunity called Field Period®. Some Field Period experiences are like traditional internships. Others are nontraditional, including international and cultural experiences, community services opportunities, and more. You can find all the details at Keuka College Career Connections.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is a required part of the academic curriculum at every accredited occupational therapy program in the United States. Fieldwork is an out-of-classroom experiential learning opportunity for senior and graduate occupational therapy students. Fieldwork helps students integrate academic coursework into real life situations while they learn from experienced professionals. Every OT student at Keuka College completes two “level I” and two “level II” Fieldwork placements. For each placement, students work collaboratively with an academic fieldwork coordinator to select a placement that best fits with the student’s preferences, personality and learning style, and learning objectives.

In addition to the required Fieldwork placements, Keuka College students also have the unique opportunity to participate in Field Period® internships in their freshman, sophomore, and junior years. In total, by the time our students graduate from Keuka College with a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy, they will have completed approximately 1,380 hours of hands-on learning.

Additional information about Occupational Therapy Fieldwork requirements are available from the American Occupational Therapy Association.

Level I Fieldwork

Level I Fieldwork helps students develop a basic understanding of clients’ needs and the role of occupational therapy, while enriching and supporting didactic coursework. As a senior in the OT program at Keuka College you will complete two level I Fieldwork placements, totaling 140 hours. For most students, level I experiences will include exposure to both traditional settings and emerging areas of practice.

Level II Fieldwork

After completing a Bachelor’s of Science in Occupational Science and other requirements, graduate students at Keuka College complete two Level II Fieldworks. Each one is a full-time, 12 week placement. Level II Fieldwork helps students to develop clinical reasoning and professional skills under the supervision of a licensed clinician. Students implement the core values and beliefs of the profession while expanding their knowledge and ability to apply classroom instruction to real-world experiences.

Fieldwork Educators

A Fieldwork educator must be a licensed occupational therapist with at least one year of experience working in a clinical setting. As a level I and/or level II Fieldwork educator, your knowledge, support, and instruction are critical to the success of our students. Fieldwork is an integral part of Keuka College’s academic curriculum, and Fieldwork educators work closely with students and Keuka College’s Academic Fieldwork Coordinators to provide learning opportunities that align with our curriculum design and the values of the OT profession.

Becoming a Fieldwork Educator

Interested clinicians with a minimum of one-year experience in the field should contact academic fieldwork coordinators Dr. Michele Bennett, assistant professor of occupational therapy, or Dr. Kelly Christensen, assistant professor of occupational therapy.

Educator of the Year Award

Each year, Keuka College’s chapter of the honor society Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE) selects one fieldwork educator and honors her or him with the Fieldwork Educator of the Year Award. Nominations are submitted each spring by current level II Fieldwork students. Selection is based on excellence in the following areas: communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, client-centered and occupation-based practice, therapeutic use of self, evidence-based practice, ethics, and advocacy.

Continuing Education Credits for Fieldwork Educators

Keuka College's Division of Occupational Therapy is proud to offer a professional continuing education opportunity to fieldwork educators. To earn continuing education credits, please view the fieldwork educator’s informational video below. Once you have completed viewing the video, click on the link provided for the exam. Questions may be directed to Michele Bennett, assistant professor of occupational therapy, at (315) 279-5720 or mbennett1@keuka.edu.

Examination for Continuing Education Credit and Certificate of Completion

Additional Information

• The American Occupational Therapy Association has many specific resources available for Fieldwork educators on their website.