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
Doctor of Physical Therapy, Grand Valley State University
Bachelor of Health Sciences, Grand Valley State University
Research Interests
Role of PTs in Primary Management of Chronic Disease
Factors Influencing Student Success on the NPTE
Areas of Expertise
GeriatricsChronic Disease ManagementCardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy
Kaelee Brockway has eight years of practice experience across 13 different clinical and non‐clinical practice settings. Most of her experiences are in post-acute rehabilitation focusing on organ transplant rehabilitation and complex chronic disease management.
Dr. Brockway held positions on the Board of Directors for APTA Michigan and the Michigan Physical Therapy Political Action Committee and served in the APTA House of Delegates from 2015 -2018. She was a heart and lung transplant educator for a large hospital system and now practices in acute care and academia, primarily teaching pharmacology, geriatrics, and cardiovascular and pulmonary courses.
From 2016 to 2018, Dr. Brockway achieved the Advanced Credentialed Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (A-CEEAA) certification from APTA Geriatrics. In 2017 Dr. Brockway became a Board‐Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy (GCS) and was the recipient of the APTA Emerging Leader Award. She is currently an Item‐Writer for the Geriatric Specialty Exam, the APTA Geriatrics CSM Programming Co-Chair, and recently completed contributions on geriatric considerations for exercise to the widely utilized Musculoskeletal Interventions textbook.
