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
BC in Physical Therapy, Lutheran University of Brazil
MSc in Neurology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul
PhD in Neurology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Research Interests
Neuroscience
Muscle tone: clinical, laboratory and therapeutic aspects
Neuropsychomotor development in early childhood
Areas of Expertise
Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience
Edla Silva da Silva, PT, MSc, PhD is a results-oriented and multi-faceted, program coordinator in higher education and physical therapy industries. She was coordinator of the Physiotherapy department at University of Caxias do Sul – Brazil. Currently, she is online postgraduation program director at FisioWork – Brazil. She created three undergraduate and one graduate Physical Therapy programs all approved by the Ministry of Education and Heath of Brazil.
She completed a Master of Science in Neurology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul – Brazil (2003) and her Ph.D. in Medical Science – Neurology at Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul – Brazil (2017).
Her main field of expertise has been post-stroke patients, muscle tone dysfunction, neuropsychomotor development in early childhood and cognitive and behavioral neuroscience. For 8 years, Edla was general director of neuropediatric outpatient clinic at La Salle University and since 2003 she has worked as internship supervisor in different hospitals.
As a researcher, Edla has developed several research projects showcasing subject matter expertise in supporting under graduation and graduate levels of education through the utilization of research-based and data-driven best practices. She was a reviewer of the Cippus (scientific journal) from 2014 to 2015.
