Dr. Loren Szmiga received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy and Doctor of Education from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. She worked in outpatient orthopedic clinics and then began to specialize in the upper extremity. In 2016,
An East Texas native, Dr. Adrian Bueno moved to Denton, Texas, in 2009 to pursue her undergraduate education. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (2014) and a Master of Occupational Therapy (2016) from Texas Woman’s University, as well as her post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (2026) from the University of St. Augustine for
Rebecca Caudrillier is an occupational therapy practitioner and educator who earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2009 and her post-professional doctorate in 2025. She brings clinical experience across a variety of practice settings alongside a strong commitment to occupational therapy education and curriculum development. Her research interests focus on anatomy education in
Dr. Jennifer Diminuco’s professional experience includes working in the outpatient setting focusing on upper extremity rehabilitation and neurological rehabilitation at multiple clinics in San Diego, CA and Dallas, TX. During her work as a clinician, Dr. Diminuco has served as a Level II occupational therapist (OT) fieldwork clinical instructor through various universities. Her most recent
Dr. Blanche Leeman joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences as an Associate Professor in the Flex Occupational Therapy (OT) program in 2023. Prior, Dr. Leeman was a contributing faculty member in the Post-professional OT program as a capstone advisor. Dr. Leeman started her occupational therapy career in 1997, working in hand therapy
Kaylee Munch earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Biology from the University of Dayton. She later attended the University of Pittsburgh where she obtained her Master of Occupational Therapy. She has experience in nursing facilities, outpatient rehabilitation and home health. Her primary practice area has been outpatient hands, focusing on
Dr. Khan-Farooqi serves as a Doctorate Capstone Coordinator at the USAHS Austin campus. She holds a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Washington University and a PhD in Education from Walden University. Her scholarly and clinical interests center on the physical, psychosocial, and emotional well-being of women during pregnancy and the postpartum period, as well as
Dr. Gerardi joined the University in 2017. He previously served as the inaugural Program Director of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Brown Mackie College–San Antonio. Other past academic appointments include visiting instructor in the Exercise Science program at Saint Mary’s University, an adjunct faculty member in the Baylor University/U.S. Army Doctor of Science in Occupational
Dr. Pamela Ann Kasyan-Howe received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Florida in 1993, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Florida International University in 1997, and a post professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from South University in 2016. She received an Education Specialist degree for Computing Technologies in Education from
Lacey Sims earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University, and a Doctor of Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Sims began her career in acute care at a level one trauma center and later transitioned
Dr. Vanessa Grijalba has worked with clients across various settings from acute care to home health. Most of her experience has been with the adult population in inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation settings. She found her passion in orthopedic rehabilitation, most recently as a private outpatient clinic as the lead hand therapist. Dr. Grijalba joined the
Raquel Guarino is an occupational therapist, certified hand therapist and educator. She graduated with her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences in 2008 and master’s degree in occupational therapy from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut in 2010. Her capstone focus was on complementary medicine and occupational therapy to address patient pain. She earned her Doctor of Occupational