Alumni Presents Internationally at RehabWeek

Alumni from the WVU Division of Occupational Therapy continue to be leaders and innovators in the field of occupational therapy. Recently, Jessi Lowman, MOT, OTR/L was accepted to speak internationally, along with her colleagues, at RehabWeek in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Along with her colleagues, Lowman presented on the use of body weight support (BWS) devices in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital with a variety of neurologic patient populations. Currently, BWS devices are utilized primarily by physical therapists (PTs) for improvements in gait. Lowman presented on the use of BWS during occupational therapy sessions to increase participation in activities of daily living and quality of life. The speakers provided insight to decrease barriers, increase usage, promote neuroplastic changes, and promote technology integration in the practice of others using knowledge translation initiatives. Additionally, the speakers shared insights into pairing technology, particularly for improved upper extremity function.

Lowman is a 2019 graduate of the MOT program at WVU and currently serves as an occupational therapist at Sheltering Arms Institute in Richmond, Virginia.