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, Physical Therapy, Texas Woman’s University (expected graduation 2023)
DPT, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
BS, Human Performance and Recreation, University of Southern Mississippi
Orthopedic Manual Physical TherapyConservative Management of Spinal PainChronic Pain Conditions
Dr. Joseph Leech earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Human Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2007. He subsequently earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2010. Dr. Leech returned to USAHS to advance his manual physical therapy skills and successfully achieved his Manual Therapy Certification (MTC) in 2013.
After practicing exclusively in the outpatient primary care setting for 3 years, he became a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedics (OCS) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) in 2014. He later completed a 3-year fellowship in orthopaedic manual physical therapy through Evidence in Motion and became a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT) in 2016. He has experience in the acute/critical care, home health, subacute inpatient rehab, and outpatient orthopaedic settings. Dr. Leech is currently pursuing his DSc in physical therapy through Bellin College with a research emphasis in factors that predict pain intensity in patients with acute and chronic musculoskeletal complaints.
Dr. Leech is a core musculoskeletal faculty member on the Austin campus, teaching in both the entry-level residential program. His clinical and research interests include the conservative management of spinal pain, chronic pain conditions, and the application of a biopsychosocial model in the rehab setting.
He has been an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) since 2008, an Orthopaedic section member since 2010, an Education section member since 2016, and a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT) since 2013.
