OTD Capstone Projects
The West Virginia University Division of Occupational Therapy is proud to showcase the completion of the Doctoral Capstone & Experiential (DCE) for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate. These students worked diligently during their DCE to capture the essence of the value of occupation in a variety of settings.
Advancing Opportunities for the Autistic Community at West Virginia University
- Capstone Student: Andrew Altizer
- Capstone Highlight Video
- Site: WVU Autism Support Program (WV)
- Capstone Mentor: Stephanie Lytle
- Faculty Mentor: Dr. Breanna Adkins
- Synopsis: This capstone project focused on the design and development of a sensory room in the West Virginia University Mountain Lair Student Union, working directly with the students in the West Virginia University Autism Support Program to attend social events with peers, and assisting students in meeting their academic, social, executive functioning, and independent living goals to independently excel in their collegiate careers.
Community Resource Programs Impact on Marginalized Communities Access to Health Care Services: A Program Development Project
- Capstone Student: Alexis Foehrkolb
- Capstone Highlight Video
- Site: Parents Place of Maryland (MD)
- Capstone Mentor: Kristen Paul
- Faculty Mentor: Dr. Heather Livengood
- Synopsis: This program added information regarding the most effective way to recruit participants for community resource programs and further supported the use of webinars for educational purposes. This program also brought attention to the role of occupational therapists in this non-traditional setting to contribute to informational materials regarding diagnoses through the lens of occupational therapy.
Contracture Management for Acute Burn Injury Patients
- Capstone Student: Brianna Petrosky
- Site: West Penn Burn Center (PA)
- Capstone Mentors: JoAnn Lyons & Brittany Kenst
- Faculty Mentor: Dr. SueAnn Woods
- Synopsis: The purpose of the contracture management project is to provide an interdisciplinary approach to improve carryover and patient care within and out of the hospital.
Dance Intervention for Stroke Rehabilitation: Restoring Occupational Performance Through Creative Movement
- Capstone Student: Olivia Allen
- Capstone Highlight Video
- Site: Therapy Services LLC (WV)
- Capstone Mentor: Lindsey Elliott
- Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Davis
- Synopsis: Participants with a CVA diagnosis and other neurologic diagnoses and comorbidities attended an 8-week community dance class program where socialization, community reintegration, fitness, and neurologic rehabilitation were emphasized.
Development and Implementation of Occupational Therapy Group Protocols for Individuals in Recovery for Substance Use Disorder: Considering Social Determinants of Health and Occupational Areas of Need
- Capstone Student: Sammy Windisch
- Site: Lauren’s Wish (WV)
- Capstone Mentor: Paige Drury
- Faculty Mentors: Drs. Amanda Acord-Vira & Jacob Greenfield
- Synopsis: Through needs assessment surveys focused on occupational areas of need and social determinants of health, 6 occupational-based group protocols were determined, developed, and implemented at Lauren’s Wish Addiction Triage Center.
Developmentally Appropriate Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Capstone Student: Ashten Cenkus
- Site: WVUMedicine Children’s Hospital (WV)
- Capstone Mentor: Megan Martino
- Faculty Mentor: Drs. Diana Davis & Kayleigh Nolan
- Synopsis: This project examined the results of the NICU staff's confidence, knowledge, and awareness after providing developmentally appropriate care for their infants before and after the educational program targeting the environment, bottle feedings, developmentally appropriate positioning, handling, and care, and family-centered care.
Effectiveness of Peer Support Groups for Mothers at Risk for Postpartum Depression
- Capstone Student: Natalie Gates
- Capstone Highlight Video
- Capstone Site: Monongalia County WIC (WV)
- Capstone Mentor: Camila Haught
- Faculty Mentor: Dr. SueAnn Woods
- Synopsis: The quantitative and qualitative data revealed that peer support groups focused on the routines of mothers and babies can positively impact mental health, maternal self-efficacy, and satisfaction in occupational performance.
Life After Sport: A Program Development Plan for Student-Athlete
- Capstone Student: Loryn Frame
- Capstone Highlight Video
- Site: WVU Athletics (WV)
- Capstone Mentors: Ryan Huff & Brittney O’Dell
- Faculty Mentors: Drs. Steven Wheeler & Richelle Gray
- Synopsis: This program development plan addresses occupational therapy’s role in assisting student-athletes transition out of collegiate athletics.
Occupational Therapy's Role in Low Vision Throughout the Lifespan
- Capstone Student: Ka Ki Tse
- Site: WVU Eye Institute (WV)
- Capstone Mentor: Rebecca Coakley
- Faculty Mentors: Drs. Kayleigh Nolan & Heather Livengood
- Synopsis: This doctoral capstone project aimed to collaborate with low vision professionals to deliver comprehensive low vision services and advocate for the integration of occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) in the low vision field.
Teaching Cultural Humility Practices in Appalachia: The Value of Conducting Conversations Based in Education
- Capstone Student: Bailey Riggs
- Capstone Highlight Video
- Site: WVU Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Office (WV)
- Capstone Mentor: Court Lanham
- Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Davis
- Synopsis: This project aims to promote the inclusion of a student-developed instructor manual on integrating a cultural humility lens when developing and providing education, as well as experiential learning opportunities and training for WVU occupational therapy students and professionals. Cultural humility approaches will be integrated within the current curriculum to progress the outcomes of therapeutic intervention utilizing a holistic and client-centered lens.
The Impact of Occupational Therapy in Lactation Services
- Capstone Student: Sarah McAninch
- Site: Connections Occupational Therapy (WV)
- Capstone Mentor: Cara Daubenspeck
- Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amy Burt
- Synopsis: To demonstrate the need for occupational therapists in the field of lactation, a five-week postpartum breastfeeding course was developed and implemented in the community.
Usage of Peer Mentoring Workbooks: Enhancing the Transition of College Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Capstone Student: Taylor Grout
- Capstone Highlight Video
- Site: WVU Country Roads Program (WV)
- Capstone Mentor: Dr. Lesley Cottrell
- Faculty Mentors: Drs. Jacob Greenfield & Amy Burt
- Synopsis: The results of this project show that given the right contributing factors of role understanding, support, attitudes, and buy-in from both peer mentors and mentees, peer mentoring workbooks can be used as a tool to support students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their new role of college student.
Visit North Carolina: Trail Accessibility
- Capstone Student: Hannah Cait Guschel
- Capstone Highlight Video
- Site: Visit North Carolina (NC)
- Capstone Mentors: Amanda Baker & Marlise Taylor
- Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brian Scaife
- Synopsis: This project advocated for initiatives to enhance accessibility awareness in outdoor spaces, promoting equitable access to trails and greater participation in leisure travel among individuals with disabilities.