Celebrating Future Occupational Therapists’ Achievements

Johnson & Wales University’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program has long attracted compassionate future healthcare providers committed to helping people regain or adapt skills to live the life they want. This month, we’re celebrating the OTD program’s classes of 2026 and 2027 for reaching big milestones, celebrated in two special events. While the Class of 2026 culminated its academic experience in OT Scholarship Day, the Class of 2027 celebrated a milestone of its own in a pinning ceremony.

JWU Celebrates Completion of OTD Class of 2026

On the eve of JWU Providence’s Commencement ceremony in May, the OTD Class of 2026 gathered to celebrate its 15 graduating members and highlight special accomplishments, followed by OT Scholarship Day. The ceremony included a long list of OTD faculty and student accomplishments, from promotions to publications to presentations at conferences.

“You’ll be the largest doctoral class at Commencement tomorrow, but today is about you,” Program Director Nancy R. Dooley, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA told the graduates. “Your faculty and administrators are so proud of what you’ve accomplished, and we can’t wait to see what you do next.”

The Human Side of Occupational Therapy

Dr. Brooke Tubbs, OTD, OTR/L, vice president of programs & clinical director at Gnome Surf, inspired the outgoing class with her keynote speech. Tubbs grew up with a mother who had sustained a traumatic brain injury and was wheelchair-bound throughout Tubbs’ life. “Early memories of seeing her in the pool doing aquatic therapy shaped how I see people as humans first,” she noted.

Drawn to water herself, Tubbs got into surfing while in the Philippines on a Fulbright Scholarship. “The ocean doesn’t care about your diagnosis; it comes whether you’re ready or not,” she noted. “You make a choice about yourself, and that is what we do: create the conditions for people to make meaningful choices in their lives.” She got into surf therapy after coming back to the U.S. and connected with Gnome Surf, a non-profit providing innovative health and wellness alternatives.

“I got a love for what OT could be outside of clinics, hospitals and rehabs,” she stated. “My mom showed me that water restores, and now I get to help others on that same transformation through waves. There was a lot of uncertainty and I had to choose next steps. You’re about to enter a profession that spans everything from prisons to playgrounds and even the International Space Station. Our profession was built on a radical idea that everyday things help humans grow and heal. You’re entering a distracted, isolated world, but that’s a calling. You can’t control the ocean, but you can learn to ride the wave.”

Tubbs’ advice to OTD graduates in a nutshell: “Everything you’ve lived and felt is in your work. The best therapists have been changed in their lives and found a way to have that change serve someone else. Stay occupation-focused, even when the system makes it hard. Find what makes OT feel meaningful. This profession needs specialists and people with fire; you can be both. And finally, own your seat at the table. You’re a holistic, evidence-based clinician. When you attend meetings, say something. Advocate for clients and your profession. You deserve to be in that room. Your story, focus, wave and voice are yours and yours alone.”

OTD '26 Student Leaders Recognized

Associate Professor Shannon Strate, OTD, OTR/L, faculty advisor for Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA), and Associate Professor Monique Dawes, OTD, OTR/L, CPAM, faculty liaison for the Coalition for Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD), recognized student leaders with sashes and cords.

Both student-run organizations advance occupational therapy to be meaningful and impactful by engaging in service projects, advocacy and community participation. COTAD empowers OT leaders to engage in inclusive practices with the goal of creating a more diverse workforce and ensuring that OT is accessible to all populations, and SOTA fosters professional growth while promoting the core values of OT. (If they sound like they have similarities, that’s because COTAD and SOTA collaborate with each other and often have the same members.)

The recognized students: SOTA co-chairs Caitlyn Menard and Jordan Chizmada; COTAD co-chairs Jayde Monteiro and Venisa Rodriguez; SOTA social media chair Kyla Campbell; treasurers Acadia Cass and Zachery Edwards and community representative Emily Hamed.

Next, Dooley explained that Phi Theta Epsilon is a national occupational therapy honor society that recognizes scholastic excellence in contributing to the field of occupational therapy through scholarly activities and encourages collaboration and the exchange of information. Dooley and Assistant Professor Kathryn Burke, OTD, OTR/L, initiated students in the 35% top of JWU OTD’s Class of 2026 (which Dooley noted was incredibly difficult due to the universally high GPAs among the cohort) into the society, having them sign the register and light a candle. The inductees were Acadia Cass, Eleanor Gemma, Meghan Burns, Serena Mora and Venisa Rodriguez.

Director’s Message to the OTD Class of 2026

After the applause died down, Dooley beamed at the outgoing class of occupational therapy doctorate students.

“You’ve done something only about 2% of Americans have done: you’ve completed a doctoral degree,” she stated. “We know you’ll do wonderful things; please keep in touch.”

OTD Class of 2027 Officially Enters Fieldwork

“Today we celebrate not only a significant milestone in these students’ journey, but also the values and tradition of occupational therapy,” noted Program Director Dooley of the OTD Class of 2027, whose 17 members completed two intense years of study and are now entering their fieldwork. Their family and friends filled Schneider Auditorium in Providence to witness their OTD pinning ceremony, which happens a year before graduation.

“This pin represents a legacy: diversity of occupational therapy practice,” Dooley continued. “Across countless settings, OTs make a profound difference in the lives of individuals and their families. The pin reminds us of the client-centered nature of your work and the deep respect you hold for those you will serve. It serves as a daily reminder of that passion you bring to this field.”

OTD '27 Scholars and Leaders Recognized

The top 35% of cohort (Amber Brown, Emily Garganese, Jacqueline Needle, Olivia Rousseau, Madison Sanborn, Toriana Sandull and Dara Studnitzer) was initiated by Dooley and Burke into the Phi Theta Epsilon occupational therapy honor society.

Next, Amber Brown, Stephanie Tudela, Joanne Barnhart, Dara Studnitzer, Morgan Ruggieri, Gianna Pernicone and Thuy Do were recognized for their leadership in JWU’s Coalition for Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) and Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) chapters.

OTD Cohort Presents Awards to JWU Students and Staff

One highlight of the OTD pinning, providing a moment of levity, was the SIMmy Awards presented by Joanne Barnhart '27 OTD and Thuy Do '27 OTD.

What are SIMmy Awards?

“A key element of JWU’s OT education is our collaborative simulation as part of Level 1 field work,” Dooley explained. “Family and friends probably heard about SIM experience; in four different semesters, students take turns acting as OTs in various settings and scenarios that include clients, children, doctors and caregivers, corresponding to OT courses that introduce them to our roles in mental health, rehabilitation, older adult, community practice and adolescence. Now we see how we’ve prepared them for real-life situations. The students have voted for one of us as the winner of the coveted of the SIMmy Award for the best actor during a SIMmy experience.”

The SIMmy Award winner: Associate Professor Colleen Whiting for having jumped into a ball pit as part of a simulation. Other recognitions awarded to JWU personnel included Program Director Dooley winning “Regular Rock Star” for teaching the cohort new words, Associate Professor Burke winning “Menti Magician” for being so great at mentis neuro rehabilitation, Assistant Professor Bethany Horne, OTD, OTR/L, winning “Tech Support 2027” for being so good with technology and OTD Academic Administrative Coordinator Angelica Bianco winning “newest member” for being the “glue” of the program and an honorary cohort member.

“We’re grateful for your support and guidance,” Barnhart and Do told the faculty awardees. 

Student superlative awards, which recognized everyone in the cohort, ranged from funny to poignant and included Isabella Fazio ’24, ’27 OTD being awarded “JWU Sweetheart” for being a Health Science program alum, JWU Dance Team athlete and JWU employee.

Director’s Message to the OTD Class of 2027

“As you step forward into the OT field, please know how proud we are of each of you and all that you’ve accomplished to this moment,” Dooley told the Class of 2027. “Although we’ll miss you on campus next year, we can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make next year."

She continued, "The change that we see in students as they return to us next year at this time can be really profound; they gain the confidence we all believe they should have, and they tend to find it on their own by that time. We can’t wait to celebrate all that you achieve next May at OT Scholarship Day.”

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