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
OTD- University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
MA- OT- Texas Woman's University
BS- OT- Texas Woman's University
Research Interests
Sensory processing
Pediatric OT
Service learning
International service learning
Interprofessional education (IPE)
Cultural competence in healthcare
Areas of Expertise
PediatricsSensory Processing and IntegrationAutism Spectrum Disorders
Dr. Capshaw brings more than 20 years experience in occupational therapy, practicing in numerous pediatric settings, including public schools, outpatient clinics, and home health. She has specialty certifications in Sensory Processing (STAR Institute Intensive Mentorships- Levels 1 and 2), administration of the SIPT, and handwriting (HWT). She spent one year at the STAR Institute in Colorado, a premiere research and clinical site serving children and families with sensory processing challenges, under the mentorship of Dr. Lucy Miller. Before coming to the USAHS, she spent 14 years in academia and higher education administration at the University of Texas at El Paso, where her teaching, research and service centered around health disparities, cultural competence, border health, community engagement, and pediatric occupational therapy. She has given presentations and taught courses across the United States, including the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Texas Occupational Therapy’s annual conferences, the STAR Institutes’s International Symposium, as well as numerous others. Her clinical, service, and research interests include pediatric occupational therapy, sensory processing, health disparities, cultural competence, service learning, international service learning, community engagement and inter-professional education (IPE).
