OTD News Volume VII, Issue 3

3 Faculty Accomplishments (Cont’d) By: Mariana D’Amico, EdD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA Dr. Whaley: 2012-2016 Dr. Whaley is a founding member of the OTD Program in Tampa and has, since its inception, served as Director of the Curriculum Committee in the OTD Program and member of the Curriculum Committee of the College of Health Care Sciences. She serves as the Chair of the OTD Committee on Student Progress (CSP), is a member of the DPT Program CSP, and has served in other program and college committees. Until recently, Dr. Whaley served as member of the Executive Council of NSU Alpha Eta Society. She has been instrumental in developing policies within the OTD Program and creating partnerships in the Tampa Bay Area that have resulted in the crea- tion of a new OT program, the development of OT positions locally, and in opportunities for fieldwork and residency for our students. Dr. Whaley’s community service is extensive and includes pro-bono consultation with the USF Health Johnny Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute for three years toward the development of an occu- pational therapy program, the creation of the Functional Assessment Unit, and the hiring of the first occupational therapist associated with that university. Dr. Whaley continues to volun- teer as invited, and for the past four years has also mentored students as volunteers in the Insti- tute’s Senior Safety and Fall Prevention event. Her pro-bono work in mental health extends to client assessment, consultation, and staff education with a local mental health center. She has also served as reviewer for several publishing companies, and for the Florida Occupational Therapy Association. Dr. Whaley has been the Chair of the Mental Health SIS for the past two years. Additionally, Dr. Whaley has trained and continues to mentor occupational thera- pists in the community in the application of the Allen Cognitive Disabilities Model and the use of the Allen Cognitive Level Screens and the Allen Diagnostic Module. Dr. Whaley was invit- ed this year to join the newly formed Occupational Therapists in Public Health group. Regarding scholarship, Dr. Whaley has presented multiple times at state and national confer- ences as well as published several articles and mentored over seven groups of students through the research. Dr. Whaley was one of five finalists for NSU’s Professor of the Year in 2016; she was recipient of the Florida Occupational Therapy Louise Samson Leadership Award in 2015; has been recog- nized many times in the past four years by St. Petersburg Junior College and the Alzheimer’s Institute for her contributions to and support of the annual Alzheimer’s and Other Related De- mentias Conferences; and recognized by Easter Seals Miami and Pembroke Pines for her presentations on dementia care. Dr. Whaley was inducted in the NSU Chapter of the Alpha Eta Society in 2014, and in 2013 was recognized by NSU College of Health Care Sciences for out- standing leadership as a CHCS and Committee on Student Progress Chair. Mirtha Whaley Ph.D., OTR/L Page 12 OTD News, Volume VII, Issue