Lynea Upson is a licensed occupational therapist with 20 years of experience across diverse settings, including acute care, sub-acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, pediatric home health, pediatric outpatient clinics, the public school system and higher education. From 2015 to 2022, Upson was an instructor at Parker University, where she helped establish the occupational therapy program and
Dr. Martin specializes in pediatric care with a clinical and research focus on sensory regulation and leadership development. His work emphasizes the importance of family-centered care and the education and support of caregivers for children with disabilities. In addition to his clinical practice, he has taught courses on the psychosocial factors influencing occupational therapy care.
With nearly three decades of experience in speech-language pathology, Kathryn Flurry Mercer has worked in a variety of adult and pediatric healthcare settings, as well as diverse educational environments. She joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) in 2019 and works as the clinical coordinator of the MS-SLP program on the Dallas,
Dr. Cynthia (Cyndi) Haynes is a pediatric therapist with more than 20 years of experience. She has worked as a clinician and director across diverse settings, including a regional pediatric hospital, pediatric rehabilitation facility, outpatient clinics, early intervention and community preschools, as well as home- and school-based services. As occupational therapy regional director with Employer
Brooke Weber earned her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Tufts University in Boston, MA. With more than five years of experience, she has dedicated her career to diverse pediatric environments, encompassing home health, schools and outpatient clinics. Weber specializes in serving children with Autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder,
Dr. Justine Faghihifar joined the University in 2023 and serves as an Associate Professor in the Occupational Therapy (OT) programs on the Dallas, TX campus. She holds a Doctor of Occupational Therapy and a Master of Family Studies from Texas Woman’s University . Specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorder, mental health, pediatrics, school systems and sensory
Dr. Macy Burr has a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a minor in psychology. She graduated from Stanbridge University with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2016. She has experience in outpatient pediatric clinics, home health, early intervention and school-based settings. Dr. Burr has researched animal-assisted therapy in occupational therapy. She teams
Dr. Erik Perez earned his Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg, TX and his post professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy with a concentration in Education from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. Dr. Perez accepted a core faculty position in the Occupational Therapy Program at the
Dr. Kristina Hartsook has been practicing occupational therapy since 2015. She graduated from Florida International University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She then completed her Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) in 2015. She continued her education and received her post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy from
Dr. Karen Park has extensive experience in pediatric practice in a variety of service settings including early intervention, clinic, school, hospital and outpatient children’s mental health. She is Board Certified in Pediatrics by the American Occupational Therapy Association and holds Advanced Practice certification in swallowing assessment, evaluation and intervention in California. Prior to joining the
Katie O’Hara is an instructor at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Prior to working in academia, O’Hara worked as a pediatric occupational therapist in an outpatient setting. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from North Georgia College and State University in 2012 and completed her Master of Science in Occupational
Dr. Cecilia Martinez graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science in occupational therapy and began her career working in the acute care and in-patient neuro-rehab settings. While at Sharp Hospital and Sharp Rehabilitation Center in San Diego, CA, Dr. Martinez worked with individuals with traumatic brain injury, stroke and spinal cord