OTD, OTR/L

Associate Chair for Research in Occupational Therapy and Associate Professor

Principal Investigator, VR-Augmented Rehab Lab

Educational background

• Postdoctoral Fellow – 2014, University of Southern California
• Certificate in Clinical, Biomedical, and Translational Investigations- 2013, University of Southern California
• OTD – 2010, Washington University, St. Louis
• BS – 2007, Randolph-Macon Woman’s College

Classes taught

• OC THR 5110- Introduction to Evidence Based Practice
• OC THR 5230- Application of Evidence Based Practice
• OC THR 5350- Proposal Development

Membership in professional organizations

• American Occupational Therapy Association
• American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
• Missouri Occupational Therapy Association
• International Society for Virtual Rehabilitation
• Pi Theta Epsilon

Professional service

• Missouri Representative- AOTA Representative Assembly
• Chair- ACRM Technology Networking Group
• Board Member- International Society for Virtual Rehabilitation 
• Chair- Persons with Disabilities Committee, MU Campus
• Research Committee Chair- MU School of Health Professions
• Curriculum Committee Member- MU OT Department
• Scholarship Committee Chair- MU OT Department
• Faculty Advisor- Pi Theta Epsilon Honor Society, MU OT Department

Awards and honors

• 2020- Young Investigator Award in Post-Acute Stroke Rehabilitation, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
• 2019- 6th Place Overall Poster, RehabWeek, Toronto, Canada
• 2018- Best Paper Award, 12th International Conference on Disability, Virtual Reality, and Associated Technologies
• 2018- Early Career Award, Second Place, International Society for Virtual Rehabilitation
• 2017- Early Career Reviewer (BMIO), Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health
• 2015- Training in Grantsmanship for Rehabilitation Research (TIGRR) workshop attendee, Medical University of South Carolina
• 2010- Excellence in Student Research Award, Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St. Louis
• 2007- Ben Vereen Scholarship in Occupational Therapy, Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St. Louis
• 2007- Phi Beta Kappa, Randolph-Macon Woman’s College

Research summary

The goal of my research is to improve the health and well-being of adults and older adults through the use of smart, home-based technology.

Selected publications

• Scholarly activity may be viewed in Dr. Proffitt’s Curriculum Vitae.

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