Occupational Therapy Colloquium Celebrates Scholarship

By Grace Collins '22, March 31, 2023

OT Graduate Research Colloquium marks transition from classroom to clinic.

A group of students conducted research using the experiences of stroke survivors.

(Photo by Kelli Friedman '22, M.S. '23)

On March 20, more than 50 Ithaca College occupational therapy graduate students were eager to give one of the most important presentations of their academic careers. Held annually, the Occupational Therapy Graduate Research Colloquium is an opportunity for students to celebrate their progress and present their research findings to the wider Ithaca College community.

Billed as the culminating event in the M.S. in occupational therapy degree curriculum, presenting at the colloquium is required of all degree candidates and marks the completion of three semesters of research. Beginning in the spring of their senior year, students either form groups and address an existing research topic with a faculty member or work independently and develop a thesis under the guidance of an advisor and research committee.

Topics at the 2023 colloquium covered a wide range of scholarly areas, spanning from occupational therapists’ perspectives on outdoor play to occupational performance in women with female reproductive organ cancers. Each group was given 20 minutes to present, followed by a 10-minute question-and-answer session to interact with the audience.

“This was by far the most scared I’ve been to give a presentation,” said Kelli Friedman ’22, M.S. ’23. “It is hard to conceptualize a year and a half of work being shared in 20 minutes, but in the moment, I felt proud and excited.”

“Seeing these students academically, professionally, and personally grow is such a heartwarming and rewarding experience for me, and a testament that they are well prepared to impact positive change wherever their journey takes them.”

Shannon Scott, assistant professor of occupational therapy

Friedman’s research study, titled “Brace Yourself, Things Are Getting Out of Hand: Stroke survivors’ perspectives on use of wrist–hand orthotics for secondary impairments,” explored stroke survivors’ experiences using orthoses, or braces, to manage secondary symptoms post stroke. The research team consisted of Friedman and classmates Daniela Alunni, Jill Geline, Angelica Grubic, Isabelle Karman, Caitlin McGrinder, Jacqueline Mirabile, Shannon Sedita, Maura Smith, and Mackenzie Wood.

The researchers worked directly with stroke survivors, deploying a mixed-method approach to collect data via surveys and interviews. “We are lucky enough in the IC OT program to get to work with clients very early on, as early as our sophomore year,” said Friedman. “We would not have been able to conduct this research, which aims to fill a gap, without the stroke survivors themselves.”

Student–faculty collaboration, an integral part of the OT experience, is a key element of the graduate research projects. Mentored by Shannon Scott, assistant professor of occupational therapy and a recognized leader in stroke research and treatment, the group worked closely with her to develop their research methodology, analyze and interpret data, and address issues that arose throughout the project—like needing to start from scratch just months before the colloquium after survey data was contaminated by “bot” responses.

“In working with these students, I feel that it was a collaboration between the students and myself as faculty, in that we learned from and alongside each other during the process,” said Scott. “This included dealing with unexpected events resulting in the need to creatively problem-solve, adapt, and critically reason. Seeing these students academically, professionally, and personally grow is such a heartwarming and rewarding experience for me, and a testament that they are well prepared to impact positive change wherever their journey takes them.”

“There was a sense of pride as these presentations conclude our coursework at Ithaca College and are a sendoff for our final fieldwork before we take our boards and start practicing.”

Kelli Friedman ’22, M.S. ’23

The research study also gave students the chance to translate the concepts they’ve studied in the classroom into clinical situations. Additionally, in working on their projects, students get hands-on experience in everything from developing research methods and working through the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process to collecting and analyzing data to form insights.

“Students present on diverse topics that will contribute to the practice and teaching in the field of occupational therapy,” said Amie Germain, associate professor and chair of the occupational therapy graduate program. “As a department, we feel that engaging students directly with the research process allows them to directly immerse in the learning experience, helping to hone their skills as both consumers and producers of evidence.”

“At Ithaca, we’re constantly reminded to prioritize client-centered care, meaning that the client should be in control of their rehabilitation,” said Angelica Grubic ’22, M.S. ’23. “Interviewing real clients gave me an opportunity to apply these concepts we are told to practice by. Treating clients should be a conversation, not an ultimatum.”

In addition to giving students a platform to share their research, the colloquium also gave the cohort the opportunity to learn from one another. As the research groups worked independently, many students weren’t aware of how other groups conducted their research or what they were finding.

“I loved hearing from my peers about what they have been exploring and finding because this is one of the few classes that is completely different for everyone. There was a sense of pride as these presentations conclude our coursework at Ithaca College and are a sendoff for our final fieldwork before we take our boards and start practicing,” said Friedman. “The colloquium made me excited to see all of the amazing things my peers will do.”