Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are advanced healthcare practitioners with similar responsibilities, such as diagnosing illnesses and prescribing medications. However, their training and paths toward certification differ in significant ways. This blog post unpacks the key differences between NPs and PAs to help you determine which career path best aligns with your goals. What Is a Nurse Practitioner? A nurse practitioner (NP) is a licensed clinician who provides comprehensive healthcare to patients of all ages. An NP can work in virtually any healthcare setting, diagnosing patient conditions and prescribing medications. As of October 2022, nurse practitioners have full practice authority in 27 states, meaning that they can practice Read more
Dr. Michelle Gorenberg joined the faculty at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in August 2017. Dr. Gorenberg has been a practicing occupational therapist for more than 30 years, with experience in a variety of clinical settings and specializing in work with children and families.
Prior to coming to the university, Dr. Gorenberg taught in the MS and OTD programs at Philadelphia University and in the Occupational Therapy program at Thomas Jefferson University. She completed her OTD and Advanced Practice Certificate in Teaching in the Digital Age from Thomas Jefferson University in 2012, and her MS in Occupational Therapy at Tufts University in 1985.
Her clinical practice focuses upon the occupational lives of children living with behavioral health concerns and includes the treatment of children living with sensory processing disorders, autism, and the effects of childhood trauma and adversity. Her research interests include therapeutic relationships in OT practice, children’s behavioral health, and teaching/learning in the health professions.
Dr. Gorenberg is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) as well as the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) and the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association (POTA). She holds licenses to practice OT in both California and Pennsylvania. Dr. Gorenberg serves on the AOTA School Mental Health workgroup and on the editorial board of OT in Healthcare.
