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- Texas Woman’s University, Dallas, TX
MS- Texas Woman’s University, Dallas, TX
BPT- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
Research Interests
Gait outcomes in patients with stroke.
Effect of Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) and Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) on patients with CNS pathology.
Effects of multichannel FES on UE function in stroke patients.
Areas of Expertise
Neurological Physical Therapy
Dr. Priya Karakkattil is an Assistant Professor at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences on the Dallas, TX campus. She has been a physical therapist for over 20 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy from Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India, a master’s degree and a PhD in physical therapy from Texas Woman’s University. She is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist and Trainer with Brain Injury Association of America and has worked primarily in neuro rehabilitation.
Dr. Karakkattil’s research interests include effects of different designs of ankle foot orthoses and functional electrical stimulation in improving gait and upper extremity function in patients with neurological disorders. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and she was part of two funded grant projects.
