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
Elizabeth Ardolino, PT, MPT, MS, PhD is Assistant Professor in the University of St. Augustine’s Austin Campus DPT program. Dr. Ardolino earned a MPT from the University of Scranton in 2002, and an Advanced Masters of Science Degree in Physical Therapy from Temple University in 2008. She completed her PhD in 2010 at Seton Hall University. Her dissertation, “The ABLE Scale: the development and psychometric properties of a new outcome measure for the spinal cord injury population” was recently published in Physical Therapy Journal.
Dr. Ardolino’s clinical experience has focused on the neurorehabilitation of pediatric and adult clients. She worked for many years as the clinical supervisor of the NeuroRecovery Network ‘s (NRN) Locomotor Training program at Magee Rehabiliation in Philadelphia, PA. The NRN, a nation-wide network funded by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and the CDC, aims to improve the health, function, and quality of life of persons with spinal cord injury. Her clinical experience at Magee focused on promoting recovery in patients with acute and chronic neurologic disorders, including spinal cord injury, brain injury, and stroke.
Dr. Ardolino’s research is two-fold. Her first research interest is in the development of new outcome measures for the spinal cord injury population. She is currently continuing to develop the ABLE scale, and has recently initiated a second multi-center clinical trial to further test the psychometric properties of this scale. She is also collaborating with colleagues at the NRN to further develop the Neurologic Recovery Scale and modify it for use with pediatric clients with spinal cord injury, and for adult clients with brain injuries. Her second research interest is testing the efficacy of Locomotor Training to improve the health, function, and quality of life of persons with spinal cord injury.
Dr. Ardolino teaches the neuroscience, neuromuscular, and research courses in USA’s Austin Campus’ DPT program
