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
BS in Health Sciences - Quinnipiac University
MS in Occupational Therapy - Quinnipiac University
Research Interests
Complementary Medicine
Women’s Health
Complex Pain Conditions
Holistic Treatment Methods
Areas of Expertise
Hand TherapyGrastonLaser treatment
Raquel Guarino is an occupational therapist, certified hand therapist and educator. She graduated with her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences in 2008 and master’s degree in occupational therapy from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut in 2010. Her capstone focus was on complementary medicine and occupational therapy to address patient pain.
Guarino spent several years practicing in New Jersey and Florida. She currently has a small business focused on graded exercise kits for patients with upper extremity strength deficits. Guarino has presented and guest lectured at local universities in Florida on orthopedic content and orthotic fabrication.
With 12 years of experience, Guarino has worked in Hand Therapy, Pediatric Sensory Integration rehabilitation and Neuro rehabilitation. She also specializes in laser treatments. She is kinesio-tape certified as well as certified in the Graston technique.
She joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences as a contributing faculty member in 2016 and became a full-time faculty member in January 2022. She teaches within the orthopedic and adult course components of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program.
