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, University of Pittsburgh
MS in Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
BS in Physical Therapy, King Saud University
Research Interests
Development And Psychometric Testing Of Outcome Measures
Balance and Dizziness in Persons with Vestibular Disorders
The Effect of Personality and Beliefs on Recovery
Kefah Alshebber, PT, MS, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the University of St. Augustine for Health Science’s Austin campus Flex Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Dr. Alshebber completed her entry-level professional Bachelor of Science in physical therapy at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia in 2006 and her post-professional Master of Science in physical therapy with a concentration in neuromuscular rehabilitation science from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012. She then completed a post-professional doctorate in philosophy of rehabilitation science from the University of Pittsburgh in 2018.
Dr. Alshebber has spent the last six years at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre (Eye and Ear Institute) balance lab as a graduate research assistant. She is also a teaching and lab assistant for the Falls and Balance Dysfunction: PT Management and Intervention course and has been a teaching assistant for the Motor Learning and Control course at the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Alshebber has a robust scholarship agenda in vestibular disorders contributing to several disseminations through both peer-reviewed publications and scientific and professional presentations nationally and internationally. She regularly presented posters at the Combined Sections Meeting and attended early career workshops both nationally and within the University throughout her PhD training. Presently, Dr. Alshebber has four published papers and six that are in various stages of publication.
Dr. Alshebber teaches the Gross Anatomy I, Gross Anatomy II and Clinical Neuroscience courses.
