At a key transition point in their studies, occupational therapy students across all USAHS campuses participate in a meaningful ritual, witnessed by family and friends. The OT pinning ceremony marks the end of the classroom portion of their studies and the beginning of their fieldwork. For Residential MOT and OTD students, this happens in their fourth term, and for Flex, in the seventh term.
A longstanding tradition in OT practice, the pin celebrates the diversity of practice areas, the client-centered nature of our practice and the values of our profession.
“It’s an opportunity for faculty to acknowledge our students’ transition from classroom learning to clinical learning,” says Mary Zadnik, ScD, MEd, OTR/L, director of the entry-level OT programs on Read more
PhD in Educational Management, Angeles University Foundation
Doctor of Physical Therapy, Dominican College of Blauvelt
Master of Public Health, Angeles University Foundation
Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, Angeles University Foundation
Research Interests
Physical therapy education and leadership
Exoskeleton
Robotics
Technologies in Neurorehabilitation
Dr. Vitente is a Board-Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist and serves as the Campus Director of the Miami, Florida Campus. He also serves as the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor at the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the same campus. He joined the University as a core faculty in November 2018. He received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2017 from the Dominican College of Blauvelt in Orangeburg, New York. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy in 2003, Master of Public Health in 2006, and Doctor of Philosophy in Education major in Education Management in 2021 from Angeles University Foundation, the Philippines. At the same University, he also served as an Associate Professor for more than 9 years and taught Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, Research Methodology, Physical Agents, Clinical Education, and Neuroanatomy before immigrating to the United States. His clinical practice has been focused on Neurologic and Geriatric Physical therapy in acute and post-acute settings. He also graduated from the distinguished American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Fellowship in Education Leadership (previously known as ELI) in 2019. Prior to joining the University, he was the Program Director at Pensacola State College’s PTA program and taught Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology, Pathological Conditions in Physical Therapy, and Neuromuscular Therapeutic Techniques. Dr. Vitente currently serves the profession as the Chair of the Florida Physical Therapy Association (FPTA) Southeast District, Chair of the FPTA Neurologic Special Interest Group, Chair of the FPTA Geriatrics Special Interest Group Evidence-based Documents Committee, Item Writing Task Force Member of the NPTE-PT of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, and Nominating Committee member and Chair of the Evidence-based Documents Committee of the APTA Geriatrics. In 2021, he co-founded the Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy and has been appointed as its founding Associate Editor. He is also one of the contributing authors in Umphred’s Neurologic Rehabilitation, 7th Edition, Elsevier, Inc., and Neurorehabilitation for the Physical Therapist Assistant, 3rd Edition, Slack, Inc.
