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
OTD, Quinnipiac University
BS in Occupational Therapy, Stony Brook University
BA in Anthropology, University of Buffalo
Research Interests
Upper Extremity Motor Recovery
Quality of Life in Stroke Survivors
Areas of Expertise
Neurological RehabilitationStroke RehabilitationUpper Extremity Limb Loss RehabilitationDriving
Dr. Claribell Bayona received her Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Stony Brook University in 1995 and her Clinical Doctorate of Occupational Therapy degree from Quinnipiac University in 2017. Dr. Bayona has practiced as an occupational therapist for 20 years in a variety of settings including school-based practice, acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and hand therapy. She has spent the majority of her clinical experience specializing in neurological rehabilitation and limb loss rehabilitation at the RUSK Institute of Rehabilitation at NYU Langone Health.
Dr. Bayona is a Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist by the National Stroke Association and a Certified Peer Visitor Trainer by the Amputee Coalition. During her time at NYU Langone Health she led multiple initiatives in neuro rehabilitation education, clinical mentorship and provided leadership to the Amputee Support Group (L.E.A.P). She has also worked in academia as an adjunct faculty member at Touro College (Manhattan Campus) and a visiting lecturer to several OT programs in New York.
She is a contributing author to several publications on limb deficiency and co-author of a chapter on amputations and prosthetics for F. A. Davis publication Adult Physical Conditions: Intervention Strategies for Occupational Therapy Assistants. Her research interests include upper extremity motor recovery and quality of life in stroke survivors. Dr. Bayona has presented on her research interests and topics of expertise at national conferences and meetings. She joined the faculty of the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in May 2019.
