Of the 13 occupational therapy (OT) students in the master’s Class of 2008, three will present scholarly research projects at the 2009 American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) national conference, slated for late April in Houston, Texas.

Marianne Wallace, Bridget Quinlan, and Jody Ensworth were students when they submitted their scholarly papers—a culmination of the graduate year—to AOTA.

“The papers are reviewed by a peer committee, and acceptations are based on quality and uniqueness, among others,” said Carmella Battaglia, professor of occupational therapy. “Marianne, Bridget and Jody had to compete against students from all colleges offering OT, as well as clinicians, educators, and others involved with OT. We are thrilled three of our students have been accepted.”

Wallace, Quinlan, and Ensworth have the opportunity to present posters, which correlate to their papers, at the conference. Both professionals and students can view the posters and ask questions. According to Battaglia, about 120 posters will be on display.

Wallace’s paper, “Defining Occupational Therapy in Oncology,” identified approaches of intervention that occupational therapists use with clients with cancer.

She examined the most and least common treatment approaches that occupational therapists use with clients with cancer, at which stages of cancer they treat patients, and determined the types of intervention approaches that occupational therapists use with clients with cancer.

Ensworth researched “Current Perceptions of Occupational Therapists Regarding Voluntary Credentialing of Fieldwork Educators.”

According to Ensworth, clinicians use informal on-the-job training—or no training—to prepare for the role of fieldwork educator. Ninety-one percent of respondents believe a voluntary credentialing program would enhance the fieldwork experience for both students and fieldwork educators.

With “The Role of Occupational Therapists in Military Rehabilitation,” Quinlan wanted to identify the current role of occupational therapists in the field of military rehabilitation, and  examine how diagnoses and treatments have changed.

Her study identified the role that occupational therapists play in aiding soldiers in their return to independence after a life-altering injury or experience.