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 - Education and Human Resources, Colorado State University
MS - Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University
BS - Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University
Research Interests
Comprehensive behavioral intervention for people with tics
Quality of life and cognitive strategy use with people with Parkinson's disease
Early intervention occupational therapy with people with psychosocial conditions
Areas of Expertise
Psychosocial Practice in Occupational TherapyInnovative Fieldwork SettingsInterventions for People with Mild Cognitive ImpairmentsComprehensive Behavioral Intervention for TicsMotivational InterviewingProblem-Based Learning
Tina McNulty, PhD, OTR/L is an educator, researcher and clinician energized by occupational therapy’s ability to positively change the lives of people with complex conditions. Dr. McNulty earned her occupational therapy bachelor’s degree at Pacific University and her master’s and doctoral degrees from Colorado State University. She worked clinically over 10 years in psychosocial occupational therapy and geriatric rehabilitation.
She has taught at the University of New Mexico, Pacific University and the University of Utah prior to joining the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2021. At each of these occupational therapy programs, she has taken the lead role in teaching the psychosocial occupational therapy curriculum with a strong focus on facilitating students’ success in emerging and traditional clinical sites. She led the development and implementation of the occupational therapy standardized client assessment programs at the University of New Mexico and the University of Utah. In addition, she has contributed to interdisciplinary grant initiatives focused on staff education related to people with dementia and another on the use of the screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) in the health professions.
Dr. McNulty has published and presented on topics focused on community living abilities of people with psychosocial conditions and older adults, cognitive strategy use of people with Parkinson’s disease and an occupational therapy intervention for people with tics. Her current scholarly interests include occupational therapy’s use of the comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics and early intervention occupational therapy for people with mental health conditions.
