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.
Dr. Penny joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) as a contributing faculty member in 2023. He teaches the Research Methods II class and serves as committee chair for students working on their Doctor of Education (EdD) dissertation research. At USAHS and in other settings, Dr. Penny has guided more than 85
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
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. Marianne Hanover obtained her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from San Diego State University and her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California. Dr. Hanover joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2017. She became an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Board-certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical
Laura Moe began her career as an occupational therapist in 2017, after graduating from the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) San Marcos, CA campus. As a school-based practitioner, she has continued to expand her emphasis on multi-sensory learning approaches, sensory regulation programs, and Learning
Dr. Cale is a recognized marriage family therapist, instructor, consultant, educational leader, mentor and personal development expert with more than 25 years of experience. His primary focus has been practical, consultative, research and leadership expertise in counseling, education, program design, strategy and organizational leadership. He obtained a marriage, family and child counseling (MFCC) master’s degree
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
Shimko earned her Master’s in Physical Therapy 1996 at Barry University. She has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association/Florida Physical Therapy Association member since 1990 (PTA 1992-1996). Shimko has 10 years’ experience serving in elected and appointed positions for the FPTA Board of Directors. She served on the FPTA Board of Directors
Dr. Jennifer Susong Crowder joined USAHS in 2015 as a contributing faculty member and transitioned to Program Director for the PPOTD program in 2024. In her role, she coordinates PPOTD capstone projects. Additionally, she works as a scientific review officer leading peer review for federally funded research. Prior to joining the University, she specialized in
Dr. Blackwell is passionate about occupational therapy. She splits her time between researching innovative practices, teaching graduate occupational therapy students, and providing service in community pediatric settings. Her service focuses on supporting participation in important childhood occupations in authentic environments. More specifically, she understands the challenges of addressing sensory and self-regulation needs in the classroom,