Published Oct. 15, 2019
The University of Louisiana Monroe was well represented at the 2019 American Occupational
Therapy Association national conference in New Orleans.
The entire faculty of the Master of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Therapy
Assistant programs, along with current students and graduates within these programs
attended the conference. Six faculty members and five MOT graduates presented research.
Carolyn Murphy, Ph.D., and Sydney Bordelon, MOT graduate, presented results from their
research on “Effective Treatment for Pediatric Feeding Difficulties: Multimodal Approach
Compared to Sensory Integration Intervention.”
Murphy and MOT program graduates, Laura Dunham and Ashley Elkin presented their research
on “Therapists’ Perspectives of the Use of Alternative Therapy Methods in Occupational
Therapy and Physical Therapy Interventions.”
Patti Calk, Ph.D., and MOT program graduates, Whitney Francis and Mary Elise Doss,
presented their research on “Falls in Skilled-Nursing Facilities and Long-Term-Care
Facilities. Kristen Hill, Ph.D., presented on the topic of Occupational Therapy’s
Role in Treating Clients with Suicidal Ideation.”
Research that resulted from programs implemented locally by Hill, Barbara Johnson,
Ph.D., Emily Mike, Ph.D., and Donna Eichhorn was also presented. Hill and Johnson’s
presentation was titled “Program Implementation of Occupational Therapy Group Interventions
for Women with Addictions.” Mike and Eichhorn’s presentation was titled “Effects of
Activity-Based Interventions and Parent Involvement on Social Interaction Skills in
Children with Autism.”
OTA students mentored by Hill including Haley Dufresne, Suzanna Hennington, Angela
Nguyen, Emily Prudhomme, and Blair Sanford, also conducted a round-table discussion
titled “Occupational Therapy’s Role in Educating Students on Coping with Stress.”
Nearly 11,000 people attended the conference, making it the second largest conference
in AOTA’s history.
Mike served on the local conference committee that was formed nine months prior to
the event. She aided in planning the local details of the conference such as logistics,
accessibility, decorations, performers, and managing volunteers. ULM MOT graduate,
Kendal Kimball, opened the conference by singing the national anthem.
