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��ɫ��Ƶ’s Downers Grove Occupational Therapy (OT) Program made a major impact at the 2025 Illinois Occupational Therapy Association (ILOTA) Annual Conference, held November 21–22 at the NIU Naperville Conference Center. With strong presentations, active leadership roles, and meaningful service contributions, the program’s faculty, students, and alumni represented ��ɫ��Ƶ across clinical practice, research, advocacy, and education.

“The contributions of our faculty, students, and alumni at this year’s Conference truly reflect the heart of our mission,” said Sarah Radtke, Ed.D., ATC, Dean of the College of Health Sciences. “Their work shows compassion, innovation, and dedication to moving the profession forward, which is inspiring to all of us.”

The conference featured 47 live and virtual courses, platform presentations, and more than 40 posters. MWU presenters contributed across key content areas, including academic education, mental health, pediatrics, neurorehabilitation, community health, productive aging, and justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Featured Awards

Plenary Address

Gifty Abraham, O.T.D., OTR/L, Associate Professor, delivered the Plenary Address, “More Than a Client: Building Trust and Collaboration in OT Practice,” alongside a former pediatric client and his mother.

ILOTA Award of Appreciation

The award was presented to Camp I Am Me. Accepting on behalf of the organization were Camp I Am Me President Kelly McElligott and MWU alumnus and program volunteer Eugenia Gavrilos, M.O.T., Class of 2014.

ILOTA Public Awareness Award

Presented to the ILOTA Community Outreach Committee. MWU recipients included faculty members Gifty Abraham, O.T.D., OTR/L, Anne Kiraly-Alvarez, O.T.D., OTR/L, adjunct faculty member Phyllis Hughes, and alumnus Izabela Liszewski, O.T.D., Class of 2024.

In addition, Anne Kiraly-Alvarez, O.T.D., OTR/L, and alumnus Gabriela Carmona, O.T.D., Class of 2025, served on the ILOTA Conference Committee and helped plan the event.

Platform Presentations

• “Autism and Air Travel”
  Joceline Rodriguez, O.T.D., Class of 2025; Riley Rynders, O.T.D., Class of 2025; Mckenzie Guth, O.T.D., Class of 2025; and faculty member Divya Sood, O.T.D., OTR/L
• “Intraprofessional Education in Occupational Therapy: Promoting Collaboration Between OT and OTA Programs to Enhance the Student Experience and Workforce Readiness”
  Alumni Courtney Merriss Prange, M.O.T., Class of 2000, and Theresa Christopher, O.T.D., Class of 2020, with two of their current students
• “A Pilot Study of a Housing Management Intervention for Young People Experiencing Homelessness”
  Faculty members Emily Simpson, Ph.D., M.S., OTR/L, Monika Robinson, DrOT, OTR/L, and students Amber Reynolds (OT Class of ’26) and Mary Vestal (OT Class of ’26)
• “Perceived Barriers of Participation for Dancing with Parkinson’s Program at Joffrey Ballet”
  Courtney Bland, O.T.D., Class of 2025, and faculty member Lydia Royeen, Ph.D., OTR

Short Course Presentations

• “A Framework for Exploring Environmental Affordances and Nature-Based Play in Children”
  Martina Golaszewski (OT Class of ’26); Cayla Cohen (OT Class of ’26); Kailey Gasik (OT Class of ’26); Inshra Ahmed (OT Class of ’26); and faculty member Divya Sood, O.T.D., OTR/L
• “Exploring Occupational Therapy’s Distinct Role in Street Outreach”
  Alumnus Alexandra Perry, O.T.D., Class of 2022, and colleagues

Poster Presentations

• “Community-Engaged Learning at Play: Building Occupational Therapy Student Competence through Children’s Museum Collaboration.”
  Juliet Perez, M.O.T., Class of 2016, and colleagues
• “Social Participation in the United States for Filipino American Older Adults.”
  Trisha Mallare, O.T.D., Class of 2025
• “LGBTQIA+ Identity Disclosure within the Rehabilitation Environment: Experiences of Healthcare Professionals” &
  “The Impact of an Educational Workshop on Occupational Therapy Students’ Perceptions of People with Experiences of Addiction.”
  Sam Dooley, O.T.D., Class of 2025
• “Occupational Identity, Empowerment, and the Role of Participation in an Integrated Dance Company.”
  Courtney Bland, O.T.D.; Earl Bondoc, O.T.D.; Kelsey Horwath, O.T.D. (all Class of 2025)
• “Incorporating Universal Design for Learning Principles in Graduate Education.”
  Gabriela Carmona, O.T.D., Class of 2025

��ɫ��Ƶ is proud of the remarkable scholarship, service, and leadership showcased at this year’s ILOTA Annual Conference. The collective impact of our faculty, students, and alumni reflects the strength of our Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.) education and continues to elevate the profession and the communities they serve.