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, Cairo University
MS, Cairo University
DPT, Dominican College
Research Interests
Task-specific training in the rehabilitation of individuals after stroke
New technology for analyzing posture of Parkinson’s disease patients and herniated lumbar disc
Rehabilitation of stroke patients using virtual reality
Mohamed Khallaf, PT, MS, PhD, DPT is Associate Professor in the University of St. Augustine’s Austin Campus DPT-flex program. Dr. Khallaf earned his MS and PhD Degrees in Physical Therapy from Cairo University in 2006 and 2010 and DPT from the Dominican College of Blauvelt 2015. Prior to joining the USAHS, he was an associate professor in Cairo University with a teaching portfolio of physical therapy for neuromuscular disorders and surgery. For 3 years, he was the head of physical therapy department in the university of Hail, Saudi Arabia with a teaching portfolio of physical therapy for neuromuscular disorders, biomechanics, and research.
Dr. Khallaf’s researches were designed to study the effect of task specific training in the rehabilitation of individuals after stroke. Additionally, he used new technology for analyzing posture of Parkinson’s disease patients and those with herniated lumbar disc. This work resulted in 12 publications in high peer reviewed journals. As an invited speaker, he attended many conferences and gave lectures and workshops in the field of neurorehabilitation in united states and middle east. Dr. Khallaf’s dissertation focused on the rehabilitation of Parkinson’s disease using external cues. This dissertation is published in the annals of Indian neurology 2012. Dr. Khallaf future research will focus on the rehabilitation of stroke patients using virtual reality which has emerged as a rehabilitation technology for patients with neurological conditions.
Dr. Khallaf clinical experience has focused on the neurorehabilitation of adult clients after stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and peripheral neuropathy with an aim to improve the functional performance, and quality of life. He worked for 3 years as a physical therapist in New York city. The practice focused on the rehabilitation of patients with neuromus.
