Faculty News

Student News

NBCOT Examination Pass Rates

The total number of graduates who passed the certification exam as first time test-takers was 47 out of 50 which is a 94% pass rate (2006-2009). The total pass rate for graduates, including first-time and repeat test takers, was 50 out of 50 which is a 100% pass rate.

SOTA

The UW-Madison Student OT Association has recently developed a website and newsletter. Please go to http://sota.rso.wisc.edu/ for details on volunteer service, fundrasing, social activities, work opportunities, educational opportunities, important dates, minutes and much more.

This year, members of the Student Occupational Therapy Association were involved in many exciting opportunities including newly developed fundraising and community outreach activities. SOTA members participated in new fundraising activities and events including selling "Badger Beads" at UW-Madison home football games, a craft fair, selling snacks and beverages in the student room, purchasing occupational therapy apparel, and a yoga session led by first year student Esther Knudson.

Beginning this past spring, SOTA members have been volunteering with the Capital Candlelighters, a group for families of children with cancer. SOTA volunteers help with Candlelighters' monthly support group, during which the parents participate in a discussion session and SOTA volunteers chaperone the children at a miniature golf course.

The largest and most successful fundraising opportunity of the year was the first student-organized job fair, in which SOTA members hosted more than 25 organizations from around Wisconsin and surrounding states. Other service activities included: run/walk events, stocking non-perishable goods at the St. Vincent food pantry, participating in a local Coats for Kids event and helping restore a playground in Sun Prairie. Several SOTA members assisted a UW-Madison law student who has a disability to increase her independence on campus.

Early in the fall, several students assisted with UW-Madison's annual technology fair, which is host to various companies providing the most updated and effective technology to assist people of all ages with disabilities.

A first and second year student also attended the National Student Conclave in Pittsburg, which provides activities geared toward students entering the OT profession.

An interdisciplinary panel consisting of UW-Madison graduate students pursuing healthcare careers was also organized to inform faculty and students about the diverse roles that various healthcare professionals play.

Several first and second year students traveled to Long Beach, California for the AOTA conference in April.

Assistive Technology (AT) Expo-Thursday, September 27, 2007

The OT program had a booth at the AT Expo in the Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Participants had a chance to see the latest in wheelchair designs, vehicle modifications, adaptive sports equipment; participate in hands-on labs; and speak with experts in AT.

Students Participate in Wisconsin IDEA: Outreach to the Community

Another new aspect of our program is student involvement in professional outreach activities as a part of the communication course during the spring semester of the first year. Students design and implement projects intended to inform the general public about occupational therapy in general, or target specific audiences to increase awareness and to recruit potential students into the field. Last spring’s projects included letters to the editor that were published in local newspapers in April in honor of OT month. A number of students chose to design events and set up recruitment information booths around campus. Pizza sales and a special showing of “Murderball” were accompanied by an OT information session. One group greatly improved the information available at the campus career center, and another designed a special brochure to recruit potential MSOT students from the UW-Madison School of Human Ecology. Students really enjoyed sharing their enthusiasm for OT, and the creativity and thoughtfulness reflected in the projects was impressive.

An Invitation to Explore Collaborative Research Opportunities for MS-OT Students

The new MSOT curriculum includes course work on scientific inquiry which is designed to promote collaborative relationships between students and practitioners. Currently, we have a database of over 20 therapists who are willing to participate, but we will need more volunteers for the future. If you are interested, please contact Professor Dorothy Edwards at dfedwards@education.wisc.edu for more information.

Growing Future Researchers

The new MSOT curriculum also includes opportunities for students to participate in faculty research. Currently, two students from the class of 2007are working with Professor Mary Schneider to study the effects of moderate alcohol exposure during pregnancy on neurodevelopment in monkeys. Three students are working with Professor Julia Wilbarger to assess sensory processing in children who are international adoptees and spent their early months in orphanages. This study is done in collaboration with Professor Mary Schneider and Professor Seth Pollak in the Psychology Department.

Growing Diversity in OT

Our first class of masters-level students is currently in their second year of the program. This class is made up of 15 students students with a rich array of backgrounds. Their undergraduate degrees include biology, business administration, communication arts, economics, education and social policy, human development and family studies, psychology, rehab psychology, and religion. (more)

Fieldwork Sites Needed in the Madison Area

We are seeking additional Level I & II fieldwork sites in the Madison area, and have an urgent need for pediatric sites in particular. Please contact Instructor Debbie Bebeau at otfieldwork@education.wisc.edu if you are aware of sites that would be willing to participate in our fieldwork programs.

Extended Timetable Course Offerings

Please contact instructors for more information about the following courses. See our new course offerings: (more)

This page was last updated: 10/19/2009 2:10:06 PM