Occupational Therapy

Presentations​​​​

In addition to presentations for local agencies and organizations, the occupational therapy program faculty routinely attend and present at district, state and national association conferences. Students have also presented and volunteered at state conferences.


In recent years The University of Findlay has been well represented by program faculty and students who provided presentations to include the following:


2016 American Occupational Therapy Conference (Chicago, Il)

  • Exploring the Effectiveness of an Occupation-Based Program Aimed at Reducing Food Insecurity (Dr. L. Schmelzer, with Dr. T. Leto, U. of Davenport)
  • (Preconference Institute) Creating Opportunities: Building Capacity for Occupational Therapy in the Criminal Justice Setting (Dr. M. Dillon, with Dr. J. Munoz,  Dr. S. Rogers, Dr. K. Barney, Dr. L. Jaegers, L. Martin, C. Ballentine)
  • Creating Opportunities: Building Capacity for Occupational Therapy in the Criminal Justice Setting (Dr. M. Dillon, with Dr. J. Munoz,  Dr. S. Rogers, Dr. K. Barney, Dr. L. Jaegers, L. Martin, A. Catalano, C. Ballentine)
  • A Palliative Care Model Design for the Alzheimer's Community (Dr. L. Buddelmeyer, with Dr. C. Verrier Piersol, S. Brough)
  • Fighting Fear and Fostering Confidence for Evidence-Based Practice (Dr. L. Schmelzer, Dr. R. King)
  • Gardening as a Meaningful Occupation and its Relationship to Flow (Dr. R. King) Contributing authors: S. Hess, N. Matanick, M. Vorst, E. Wagner)
  • Transition Services to Secondary Students: Evidence, Assessment, Group-Based Intervention, and Meeting Key Challenges (L. Sakemiller, with K. Barth, K. Gooch, Dr. D. Pierce)
  • Using the Kawa Model to Guide Participation and OT Programming in the Community: An Initial Study (Dr. M. Dillon, Dr. T. Dillon, Dr. T. Griffiths)-Contributing authors: M. Tippie, T. Carman, J. Fry, A. Wallance, S. Wright

November 2015 International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation-virtual presentation (Seville, Spain)

  • Flipping the Classroom for Health Professions (Dr. C. Goodwin)


Fall 2015 Hancock Leadership Program (50 North, Findlay, OH)

  • A Palliative Care Model Design for Patients with Alzheimer's Disease (Dr. L. Buddelmeyer)


October 2015 Bridges Out of Poverty Conference (Cincinnati, OH)

  • Living Better with What You Have: Maximizing Food Resources Through Hands-On-Programming (Dr. L. Schmelzer, Dr. T. Leto [Davenport U.], C. Steegman)

2015 OOTA Mid-Year Conference: Central District

  • Practicing Occupational Therapy in a holistic Manner (M. Tippie)

2015 Ohio Occupational Therapy Annual Conference (Worthington, OH)

  • Model Practice Award in Education: Start Small, Think Big-Building an OT Practice in the Community (Dr. T. Dillon, Dr. M. Dillon, Dr. R. King, M. Tippie)

  • Sensory Processing and Childhood Obesity: A Descriptive Pilot Study (R. Rogliatti, Dr. L. Schmelzer)

  • Transitioning into Management and Leadership in Occupational Therapy (Dr. T. Dillon; Students: J. Faurot, T. Heath, K. McKenty, S. Seemann)

  • Gardening as a Meaningful Occupation and its Relationship to Flow (Dr. R. King; Students: S. Hess, N. Matanick, M. Vorst, E. Wagner)
  • Empowering Marginalized Populations to Overcome Food Insecurity (Dr. L. Schmelzer; Students: C. Schroeder, H. Jackson, A. Kittle, M. Paparone, S. Zukas, W. Schuschke, K. Wesche)

2015 American Occupational Therapy Conference (Nashville, TN)

  • Yes We Can: Meeting the Occupational Needs of Society Using a Step-by-Step Approach (Dr. M. Dillon, Dr. T. Griffiths)

  • Leading the Way: Using Occupational Therapy's Distinct Lens to Help Those in Poverty Live Better With What They Have (Dr. L. Schmelzer with Dr. T. Leto, U. of Davenport)

  • Bridging the Gap to Successful Community Re-Entry Using Aftercare OT Interventions: A Case Study of Ex-Offenders (Dr. T. Griffiths, Dr. M. Dillon, Dr. T. Dillon; Students: K. Burke, B. Guice, S. Fisher, J. Frisch, A. Lock, R. Mack, J. Seeger, T. Vaughn)

  • Conversations that Matter-OT in Correctional Settings (Dr. M. Dillon, with Dr. J. Munoz,  Dr. S. Rogers)

  • Educational Programming and Outreach Services: How Senior Centers and OTs Can Empower the Alzheimer's Disease Community! (Dr. L. Buddelmeyer)

  • Get Out and Stay Out! Inmates Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy Programming in a County Jail (Students: S. Lynn, K. Fritz, C. Gilson, A. Albrecht, A. Adkins, L. Speck, C. Myers, L. Blair; Dr. T. Griffiths, Dr. M. Dillon)

  • Big Fish from Small Academic Ponds: Preparing Students for Primary Care. (Dr. M. Dillon with Dr. V. Smith, Dr. D. Walkovich, Dr. D. Long, Dr. M. Bennett)

  • OT in the US Criminal Justice System: Education, Expertise, & Evidence (Dr. M. Dillon with Dr. J. Munoz, A. Sitterly, E. Moreton)


2014 American Occupational Therapy Conference (Baltimore, MD)

  • Correcting the Chasm in Corrections with Contemporary Community-Based OT Practice. Mary Beth Dillon, OTD, MOT, OTR/L; Tara Griffiths, DrOT, OTR/L; Rosalie King, DHS, OTR/L

  • Coaching for Emerging Occupational Therapy Practice: Evidence for Health, Wellness, and Participation. S. Garland, MA, OTR/L; Lindsey Buddelmeyer, MOT, OTR/L; E. Phillips, MSOT, OTR/L

  • Educational Strategies for Developing Cultural Competence. Rosalie M. King, DHS, OTR/L; Theresa Leto, DHS, OTR/L

  • Paving the Way to Progressive Practice: Tying Curricular Threads to the Development of OT Programming in a  County Jail. Mary Beth Dillon, OTD, MOT, OTR/L; Tara Griffiths, DrOT, OTR/L

  • Centennial Vision in Action. A. Lamb, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA; S. Bazyk, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA; Lindsey Buddelmeyer, MOT, OTR/L; E. Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L; C. Mikush, OTD, OTR/L; C. Siebert, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA

  • Are We There Yet?: Creating Critical Mass in Correctional Settings. J. Munoz, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA;.Mary Beth Dillon, OTD, MOT, OTR/L; S. Rogers, Ph.D., OTR/L; M. Simmons, R. Thomas


2013 Ohio Occupational Therapy Annual Conference (Dublin, OH)

  • Innovative Inroads to Intervention: OT in Corrections. Mary Beth Dillon, OTD, MOT, OTR/L; Tara Griffiths, DrOT, OTR/L; Rosalie King, DHS, OTR/L
  • Occupational Therapy Programming in County Jails: Providing Skills for Successful Community Reentry. Scott, Ingraham, S/OT; Sharay Sohail, S/OT; Aaron McLaughlin, SOTA/L, S/OT; Julia Lawson, S/OT; Amber Lilly, COTA/L, S/OT; Heidi Forbes, COTA/L, S/OT
  • Educational Strategies for Developing Cultural Competence. Rosalie King, DHS, OTR/L; Theresa Leto, DHS, MOT, OTR/L
  • Laying the Foundation for Contemporary Practice: Developing and Maintaining OT Programming in a County Jail. Mary Beth Dillon, OTD, MOT, OTR/L; Tara Griffiths, DrOT, OTR/L


2013 American Occupational Therapy Conference (SanDiego, CA)

  • Practitioner Perceptions of Clinical, Professional, and Leadership Development Through Non-Traditional Level II Community-Based Fieldwork. Mary Beth Dillon, OTD, MOT, OTR/L
  • Build It and They Will Come: Constructing the "Field" of Occupational Therapy in a Rural County Jail. Mary Beth Dillon, OTD, MOT, OTR/L; Lt. Ryan Kidwell; Miranda Tippie, MOT, OTR/L
  • Childhood Obesity and Occupational Therapy: Mothers' Perceptions of the Complexities Associated With Promoting Health. Laura Schmelzer, Ph.D., MOT, OTR/L