Faculty Research
The faculty of the Division of Occupational Therapy are actively engaged in research in various areas, including research that is both quantitative and qualitative in design. As part of the program curriculum, students are required to develop and complete a research project. Often, students elect to continue work with professors in areas of interest. Students should consult with faculty in regard to the nature of their research and program requirements.
Publications:
Dr Steven Wheeler, PhD., OTR/L, was published in the Occupational Therapy Jounal of Research. His research article entitled, "Community participation and Life Satidfaction Following Intensive, Community-Based Rehabilitation Using a Life Skills Training Approach" was featured on the cover on the Winter 2007 edition of OTJR. The article co-authored with Shelly Lane and Brian McMahon reported the results of a pilot study that "examined the effect of an intensive, community-based life skills training program on community integration and life staisfaction among individuals with traumatic brain injury."(Wheeler, Lane, & McMahon, 2007).
Dr Robert Chetlin, PhD, CSCS, HFI, has co-authored two articles that were published in the Stength and Conditioning Journal. The two articles written with Haff, Aontonio, Hoffman, Kraemer, and Vingran focused on the current issues with elite athletes, and Anabolic - androgenic steroids. A third article co-authored with Smith, Gutman, Yeater, and Alway addressed the effects of exercise and creatine on myosin heavy chain isoform compostiion in the vastus lateralis muscle of patients with Charcot-Maire Tooth Disease was published in Muscle & Nerve.
Dr Anne Cronin has recently authored a chapter in an upcoming text. Her chapter entitled "My kid just is not like any one else's kid; Mental health disorders in childhood" will be inluded in the upcoming text "Kids Can Be Kids- Supporting The Occupations And Activities Of Childhood" edited by Shelly J Lane and Anita C Bundy. F.A. Davis Publisher.
Dr Robert Chetlin, PhD, CSCS, HFI, has co-authored a chapter with Dr Lori Gutman, MD in a book for patients with Charcot Marie Tooth Disease. The chapter entitled, "Physical Exercise Programs for Patients with CMT", was published in 2007 in "The patient's Guide to Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disorders".
Dr Anne Cronin's abstract: Homelessness: a Mexican Experience. was published in the Book of Abstracts: International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapy , 14th Annual Meeting, 2006.
Dr's Chetlin and Wheeler as well as Kristin Pettrey, OTR/L and Gretchen Russell OTR/L had their research "Assessing quality of life, self reported exercise, and BMI in individuals with type 2 diabetes" published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.
Presentations:
Donna Colaianni, MS, OTR/L presented at the 13th annual WVOTA conference held in Charleston, WV October 6th. Her presentation "edema management, techniques and evidence" reviewed the latest information and research regarding management of edema in Client with neurological and orthopedic injuries"
Amanda Kessler Rogers, OTR/L, presented on Fieldwork supervision issues at the 13th annual WVOTA conference in Charleston, WV. "Reflections on Clinical Supervision" included video vignettes and elicited audience participation.
Dr Anne Cronin, PhD, OTR/L, discussed the role of occupational therapy in the re-design of a daycare center to meet the needs of children with developmental delays in her presentation titled, "Mountaineer Kids Club" at the 13th Annual WVOTA on October 6th, 2007.
Dr Steven Wheeler, PhD., OTR/L, presented "Impairments affecting community reentry following severe TBI" to clinicians and students at the 13th Annual WVOTA conference in Charleston, WV on October 6th, 2007.
Dr. Steven Wheeler, presented a research project he completed with former OT students at the Canadian Occupational Therapy Conference held in July in St Johns. The presentation: "Community Participation and Life Satisfaction Following Spinal Cord Injury" summarized the findings of the study completed by Dr. Wheeler and WVU OT graduates, Adrien Boudreau and Kimberly Pogue.
Diana Davis and Dr. Randy McCombie presented on preparing adjunct faculty for the classroom at the Americal Occupational Therapy Conference in St. Louis April 2007. The hour and a half short course summarized the use of the adjunct faculty workshop started at WVU to prepare adjunct faculty members.
Assistant Professor Donna Colaianni, MS, OTR/L, CHT presented a short course titled "The Use of Occupation-Based Treatment in Hand Therapy" at the AOTA conference held in St Louis, MO in April of 2007. The evidence for and benefits of the use of occupation-based treatments was emphasized by Ms Colaianni. The challenges to using occupation-based treatments in hand therapy were also presented and solutions to these challenges were discussed with the audience.
Dr Robert Chetlin presented the results of his research "Assessing Quality of Life, Self Reported Exercise and BMI in Indvidiuals with Type 2 Diabetes" at a poster session at the American College of Sports Medicine conference held in New Orleans in June 2007. Co-authors of the project were: Gretchen Russell and Kristin Pettrey, WVU OT graduates, Dr. Ullrich, Department of Medicine, Endocrinology, and Dr. Steven Wheeler.