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
BA Biology, Gustavus Adolphus College
MS Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago
OTD Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago
Research Interests
Occupational therapy in primary care
Occupational therapy and chronic disease self management
Disability accommodation for allied health students and practitioners
Self-Management in acute care practice
OT and self-management with the unhoused community
Dr. Whitney Hohman has worked as occupational therapist in a variety of adult and pediatric settings, but her primary focus has been on acute care, intensive care practice and primary care. A recent graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago, Dr. Hohman completed her doctoral project, a pilot study examining screening tools to support OT referral in primary care.
Dr. Hohman has a passion for expanding accessibility within the profession for both OT students and practitioners with disabilities, growing the profession through exploration of OT’s role within emerging practice areas and researching the role of Self-Management in Chronic Disease. She is a member of the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association (ILOTA), the Texas Occupational Therapy Association (TOTA), World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). A recent transplant from Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Hohman practiced for a number of years at Northwestern Memorial Hospital where she established a number of programs including a role for occupational therapy within the emergency department.
Dr. Hohman is currently looking to establish a community of primary care OT practice to cultivate a system of support for this emerging practice area. Dr. Hohman’s research is focused on the impact of OT services within primary care practices and on the development of emerging areas of practice.
