ALUMNI IN ACTION
Success Stories from some of our Doctoral Graduates

Barbara Williams
I received my B.S. in occupational therapy at the University of Southern Indiana and earned a post-professional master's degree in occupational therapy from Belmont University in Nashville , Tennessee . I am an educator at the University of Southern Indiana where my primary responsibilities include developing and teaching master's level courses. I also practice at a rehabilitation hospital in Evansville , Indiana . My primary interests include spirituality, mental health, health and wellness, and advocacy. Doctorate studies at Nova Southeastern University have significantly influenced my practice and my teaching methods and abilities, while allowing me to study particular areas of interest. As I continue to study occupation and its theory, purpose, and effect, NSU has made me dedicated to being a life long learner. My expected completion date for a clinical doctorate studies is August 29, 2004 . I look forward to completing my education, but know the knowledge I have gained at Nova Southeastern University will remain integral to my professional life. Feel free to contact me at bjwilliams4@usi.edu.

Rosanne DiZazzo-Miller, OTD, MOT, OTR
Rosanne DiZazzo-Miller, OTD, MOT, OTR received her bachelor's degree from Adrian College, Michigan, her master's degree in Occupational Therapy from Eastern Michigan University , and her doctoral degree from Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Entering academia in 2003, she serves on the faculty at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Prior to her career in academia, she worked in clinical practice in traumatic brain injury, which encompassed clients from pediatrics through late adulthood. She is currently involved in technology consultation for clients with spinal cord and brain injuries. As a member of the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association, she also serves on the Political Action Committee. In her spare time she enjoys family time, traveling, sports, and crocheting.

Barb Brockevelt, MA, OTR/L
Contact her via email

Robinette Amaker, LTC, SP, Ph.D., OTR/L, CHT, FAOTA received the Distinguished Student for the College of Allied Health in 1998 and the 2000 Distinguished Alumni Award for the College of Allied Health. Bobbi is an Army Occupational Therapist and is stationed at Womack Army Medical Center , Fort Bragg , NC. This year at conference in Minneapolis Bobbi was awarded the coveted Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA) and she is the first NSU graduate to receive this award. Bobbi is the only active duty FAOTA in the Department of Defense (Army, Navy and Air Force).

Beth Pfeiffer
Beth Pfeiffer finished her Ph.D. at Nova Southeastern University in January of 2004. She currently is the Program Coordinator of a graduate Pediatric Certificate Program that she developed for occupational and physical therapists at College Misericordia in Dallas, Pennsylvania. She reported that the doctoral program at NSU provided her with the foundation to move forward in the profession and develop this distant education program. Beth also supervises the occupational therapy department at Pediatric Therapy Associates, a private practice in Allentown, Pennsylvania . In her free time, she plays ultimate frisbee and is training for a triathlon. You can contact her at discsport@earthlink.net.

Wendy Krupnick
Wendy is in her last year of graduate coursework at NSU where she is pursuing her PhD in occupational therapy. She is also currently an associate professor and program director of The Sage Colleges MS Program in Occupational Therapy in Troy, New York. Her OT clinical experiences have been in mental health and early intervention services. Her first role as an OT faculty member was as fieldwork coordinator for the Sage OT Program. Prior to her becoming an academic educator, Wendy served as director of Public Affairs for the AOTA and worked in communications for a variety of businesses and organizations. Her present clinical interests are in the areas of caregiver well-being, program evaluation and management, and fieldwork supervision. Her teaching responsibilities include professional issues, organization and management, and research advising. Wendy served as an accreditation evaluator for ACOTE for two years. She received her BS in OT from Boston University and MBA in marketing from George Washington University. She is the co-author of a continuing education article in OT Practice on the Fieldwork Experience Assessment Tool (which she developed with a team of colleagues through a research project funded by an AOTF/SIS partnership). She has also written a chapter, Targeting Communications, in the AOTA book, The Occupational Therapy Manager, and has presented papers on collaborative learning,and fieldwork education, supervision and related issues. She is married and has two teen-age children. Contact her via e-mail

Elisa Honeyman, OTR/L
Elisa earned her BS in Occupational Therapy from Sargent College at Boston University in 1978. Her career focus is psychosocial and substance abuse treatment. She has worked at Coral Reef General Hospital (currently Deering Hospital in Miami, FL; The Institute of Living in Hartford, CT; Elmcrest Psychiatric Institute in Portland, CT; and Sarasota Palms Hospital/ Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, FL. She has mainly worked with adults and geriatric clients, although she has also worked with youth in settings including acute and long term inpatient hospital units, a dual diagnosis unit and partial hospitalization programs. She is currently involved as a volunteer with a Nova Southeastern University project with the Salvation Army, working with the homeless on life skills. This area, along with the ADA and employment issues for individuals with psychiatric 'disability' are among my current foci. Feel free to contact me by email.

Gwen Bartolacci
Contact her via e-mail

Wendy Stav, PhD, OTR/L, CDRS - Wendy graduated from Quinnipiac College in Connecticut with a BS in Occupational Therapy in 1991. At NSU, Wendy's dissertation research examined the practice patterns of occupational therapists related to driving and identified barriers and catalysts to addressing driving in practice. Wendy completed her PhD in occupational therapy in 2001 from NSU. Her other research endeavors have included profiling the performance of older drivers, examining the relationships between identified performance thresholds and actual older driver performance, program evaluation of a community based program, studying the influences on practice related to driving, and identifying clinical assessments that predict driver performance. Following graduation, she worked at Cleveland State University in Ohio as an assistant professor. In pursuit of continued work in the area of driving, Wendy joined the faculty at the University of Florida as a Research Coordinator in the newly established National Older Driver Research and Training Center . She is involved with the American Occupational Therapy Association's older driver initiative by co-authoring the position paper on community mobility, participating in the establishment of specialty certification in Community Mobility & Driver Safety, serving on the Older Driver Advisory Panel and authoring the evidence-based literature review on community mobility. Wendy collaborated with the American Medical Association on their older driver project as a representative of the American Occupational Therapy Association, contributor and reviewer of the book “A Physician's Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers”. She also authored a book for occupational therapists titled “Driver Rehabilitation: A Guide for Assessment and Intervention” and developed an assessment of driver-vehicle fit for injury prevention. At the state level, Wendy represents the University of Florida and the occupational therapy profession in the Florida At-Risk Driver Council. You are welcome to email her at wstav@phhp.ufl.edu

Wendy Stav, PhD, OTR/L, CDRS - (continued)

• New position as a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Florida 's National Older Driver Research and Training Center
• Member of AOTA's Older Driver Advisory Panel
• Co-author of AOTA's position paper on Community Mobility
• Co-author of AOTA Evidence Based Literature Review on Driver Rehabilitation and Community Mobility
• Co-author of AOTA's Practice Guidelines on Driver Rehabilitation and Community Mobility
• Chair of the AOTA's panel to develop Specialty Certification in Driver Rehabilitation and Community Mobility
• Recent presentations at 2004 annual conferences of AOTA and ASA
• Published book: Stav, W. (2004). Driver rehabilitation: A guide for assessment and intervention. San Antonio , TX : PsychCorp
• Upcoming publication: Stav, W. (in press). Inconsistencies between assessment performance and safety among older drivers.  Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation.
• Awards : AOTA Service Award for Membership, AOTASB Community Mobility/Driver Safety Panel, American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc., May 21, 2004
• Certificate of Appreciation for efforts and dedication to Alzheimer's Disease
• Alzheimer's Summit , Florida House of Representatives, February 5, 2004
• Appointed member of the Florida At-Risk Driver Council

Beth Werner DeGrace, PhD, OTR - After her 2001 graduation she moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to work at the Health Sciences Center as an Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy. She currently teaches Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy, Issues and Interventions for People with Disabilities Across the Lifespan, and various third year pediatric electives. Most of the classes include both MOT and MPT students. She also teaches in the Advanced Master’s in Rehabilitation Sciences, as well as in the Doctoral Program in Allied Health. She is also a consultant for the State Department of Education in early intervention services for children with autism and I was recently awarded a grant to examine current service provision for children with autism. As an aside, She married the man of my dreams in July of 2001, and they had a little daughter in April 2002. Life is wonderful. She says she would love to hear from you. She can be contacted by email at beth-degrace@ouhsc.edu.

Tina Gelpi, OTD, MOT - Tina Gelpi is enjoying being a NSU OT Class of 2003 doctoral graduate, Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy at Florida Gulf Coast University, and a Southwest Florida resident! The department is transitioning to an entry-level master's degree in OT. Also, we are quite pleased with our recent hire of Dr. Rosalie Miller (how great for all of us!) as Project Manager for a HRSA funded grant to plan post-baccalaureate certificate and degree programs in occupational therapy, recreational therapy, and physical therapy for fostering Community-University Partners in Service to the Elderly (CUPSE). In the future, we will develop a complementary undergraduate degree. Never a dull moment and always plenty of sunshine, beaches, and boats in Fort Myers, FL! You may contact her by email.

Janine Hareau, PhD, OTR/L, PT - Janine graduated with a physical therapy degree in Uruguay and then earned an occupational therapy degree from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is the director and owner of "Clinica de Rehabilitacion de la Mano" (Hand Rehabilitation Clinic) in Montevideo - Uruguay. She serves as a member of the board of directors of the International Federation Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT). Interests include arthritis, hand and upper extremity rehabilitation, and ergonomics. You are welcome to email her.

Elysa Lipschutz, PhD, OTR/L - Elysa graduated from Florida International University, Miami, Florida. Areas of interest include: health promotion, preventative practice, and promotion of occupational therapy to the public. Dr. Elysa Lipschutz is a full time faculty member in the NSU OT Department. You are welcome to email her.

Dan Morrell - I am the past-class president and graduate of the Master's degree in Occupational Therapy program, class of 2000. In January 2002, I received my Doctorate in OT and began my pursuit of personal and professional goals I had set while I was a student at NSU. One of these goals was accomplished just three months after leaving NSU by being appointed the Director of Rehabilitation Services for Avante Care Ancillary Services at Lynchburg, Virginia. Avante is a Nursing and Rehabilitation Center with 19 facilities from Hollywood, Florida to Red Bank, New Jersey. I feel NSU has prepared me educationally and professionally for position of high responsibility. Moreover, I have recently completed my first year as the Director of Avante with a very successful annual review. If I can state one benefit from participating in the OT Doctorate programs at NSU, it would be the confidence, professionalism, and preparation that NSU has provided me to begin achieving those goals I had set while I was a student.

Diane Turner, OTD, OTR/L - Diane Turner, OTD, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist from Memphis, TN, and graduated from Nova Southeastern University’s doctoral occupational therapy program in January 2003. She received her undergraduate degree in occupational therapy in 1980 from the University of Kansas and worked for several years in the areas of gerontology and physical rehabilitation. In 1988, Diane initiated work as an occupational therapist at Green Pastures Hospital in Pokhara, Nepal, developing and facilitating a physiotherapy and occupational therapy clinic for Nepali people affected by Hansen’s disease (commonly known as leprosy). Diane worked at Green Pastures Hospital from 1988 through 1999 and trained Nepali health care workers in physical and psychosocial rehabilitation, adapting her practice to the culture and understanding of the Nepali people. Diane’s 11 years in Nepal taught her invaluable lessons in communicating effectively outside of her first culture; in collaborating within a community-oriented society; and in problem-solving in a developing country with limited resources. Over the years, Diane handed over the responsibilities of clinical management and leadership to the Nepali people she helped train, and these same people direct the clinics today. Nepal, however, lacks higher education programs in the allied health careers such as occupational therapy. Diane’s interest grew in developing such a program, so that Nepalis would no longer be forced to attend foreign universities, spending enormous sums of hard-earned money in order to advance their professional skills in rehabilitation. Nepal’s medical care is at a crisis point that necessitates an expansion towards community-built rehabilitation but, without available education that implements Nepali ideals, this will not transpire. In 1999, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity came about when Diane received a full scholarship to attain her clinical doctorate in occupational therapy at Nova Southeastern University. Diane was accepted at NSU in May of 2000 and utilized her time as a doctoral student to refine those talents that would help her put into effect the dreams she had of establishing occupational therapy education in developing countries. NSU’s online doctoral occupational therapy program was the perfect place for Diane to search for new angles and experiment with the theories she constructed; to meet and network with creative occupational therapists holding a diversity of backgrounds and worldviews; and to learn the proper research skills vital to her interest in educational development. The stimulation and support from the faculty as well as the flexibility within the doctoral occupational therapy courses enabled Diane to study and write about areas of interest that were meaningful to her. Currently, Diane is making plans to return to Nepal in April 2003, to survey community strengths and desires for rehabilitation and to lay the groundwork for beginning a school of occupational therapy in Kathmandu, Nepal. Diane’s personal interests remain in cultural/medical anthropology, community-based rehabilitation, international human rights, and the mental health issues of people who are newly-immigrated or living as refugees. Diane may be contacted via e-mail at diane.turner@worldnet.att.net