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
MS, Occupational Therapy - Western Michigan University
BS, Interdisciplinary Health Services - Western Michigan University
Research Interests
Psychosocial Oncology and Cancer Survivorship
Resilience in Complex Medical Journeys and Illness Narratives
Post Intensive Care Syndrome
Simulation Techniques for Soft Skill Development
Areas of Expertise
OncologyAcute CareEarly Mobility in ICUMedical and Health Humanities
Prior to joining University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2021 at the Austin campus, Tiffany Bystra was a Staff Occupational Therapist for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Her clinical work largely entailed general acute care, including medical/surgical populations, orthopedics, oncology, trauma and critical care. She is specialty-trained in dysphagia practice and has facilitated bedside and video fluoroscopic swallow studies with patients experiencing swallowing dysfunction.
As a late-stage cancer survivor, Bystra has a deep appreciation of therapy and rehabilitation involvement for oncology patients across the care continuum. To better understand how to support patients during vulnerable clinical encounters, she earned a Narrative Medicine certification through Columbia University in New York, which seeks to reinforce patient-centered care models through themes of empathy building, medical humanities and close listening. Bystra has engaged in social work curriculum to address the mental health needs of the oncology population and empower professional advocacy through legislative and policy engagement.
In addition to her clinical experience, she has served as an Occupational Therapy Teaching Specialist for the University of Minnesota, where she facilitated fieldwork experiences and clinical instruction both in-field and via telehealth formats.
Bystra’s research interests include psychosocial oncology and cancer survivorship, resilience in complex medical journeys, post-intensive care syndrome and quality-of-life indications in chronic disease management.
She has a Master of Occupational Therapy degree and a Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary health services from Western Michigan University. She also attained a Certificate of Professional Achievement in narrative medicine from Columbia University, NY.
