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
BS in Occupational Therapy, Florida International University
MS in Health Sciences, University of Central Florida
PhD in Education, Walden University
Research Interests
Fieldwork education
Implementation of feedback
Interprofessional education and collaboration
Dr. Karen Menard joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in January 2012 as a contributing faculty member and accepted the Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program Director position in March 2015. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Florida International University in 1985, her Master of Science in Health Sciences from the University of Central Florida in 1992 and a PhD in Education from Walden University in 2014. She brings more than 35 years of managerial and clinical experience in a variety of settings specializing in orthopedic, neurological, cognitive, emotional and pediatric disorders.
Dr. Menard authored materials presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) National Conferences, Florida Occupational Therapy Association Conferences, Online Learning Consortiums, Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions, NEXUS Summits, Athens Institute for Education and Research Annual International Conference on Public Health, International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare, National Academies of Practice, World Confederation of Physical Therapy, WASC Academic Resource Conferences, International Autism Conference and Autism One Conference.
She is published in several journals including: Health, Interprofessional Practice and Education; Journal of Research in Health Sciences; Journal of Allied Health; Journal of Occupational Therapy Education; and Open Journal of Occupational Therapy.
Dr. Menard is a member of the World Federation of Occupational Therapy, American Occupational Therapy Association and Florida Occupational Therapy Association. Her special interest activities focus on interprofessional education in higher education, and her research expertise is in qualitative studies. Her passion is to encourage all students to advance the profession of occupational therapy through research and education.
