Mentored Research (students, post-doctoral fellows)


Post-doctoral fellowships

  1. Liron Lamash, Ph.D., OT. Conducted two studies related to participation and environmental factors that support or hinder participation of adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). One study used secondary analyses from data she collected using the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY) – Hebrew version. The second study involved modification and feasibility testing of the Social Participation And Navigation (SPAN): an app-based coaching intervention for use with adolescents with ASD (2017-2018). SPAN studies have continued (development of SPAN-ASD intervention manual and website/app; and usability and pilot implementation studies -2018-2023)
  2. Anat Golos, Ph.D., OT. Conducted two studies that examined psychometric properties of the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation (CASP) over a three-year period based on prior data from the longitudinal study: Disability from pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant # R49CE001021-02) (2014-2016).

Doctoral (Ph.D) Dissertations and Research

  1. Conall O’Rourke, Ph.D. candidate, Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Awarded the Santander International Student Research Travel fund to work with me to conduct a systematic review on interventions to promote social participation of children and youth with acquired brain injuries, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Attention Deficit Disorders. (March 24 – May 30, 2017)
  2. Amanda Francis, Ph.D., OT, Division of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. “Young people with an acquired brain injury: Development of a pilot program to support their transition to adulthood.” [External Reviewer, 2016]
  3. Margaret Jones, Ph.D. OT. Department of Occupational Therapy, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, NZ. “Participation for Aotearoa New Zealand Children after Traumatic Brain Injury: An Integrated Approach” (External Reviewer, 2015)
  4. Matthew Molineux, Ph.D., OT, Division of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. “The occupational careers of men living with HIV infection in the United Kingdom: Insights into engaging in and orchestrating occupations.” [External reviewer, 2005]

 Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctoral (PP-OTD) students

  1. Miranda (Cullen) Fox, OTD, MS, OT,  Development of program evaluation tool for community-based program serving youth and young adults with chronic illness. [Advisor/First Reader; graduated spring, 2021]
  2. MacKenzie Rickert, OTD, MS, OT, Evaluating a Life Skills Group for Elementary Aged Students with Social and Emotional Disorders.[Advisor/First Reader; graduated spring, 2021]
  3. Brij Maliya, OTD, MS, OT, How Do School-Based Occupational Therapists Describe Their Process of Using Evidence-Based Practice in Massachusetts? [Third reader; graduated, Feb. 2020]
  4. David, McElroy, OTD, MS, OT, Examining Lifespan’s Outpatient Occupational Therapy Initial Evaluation for People with Stroke. [Advisor/First Reader]
  5. Kathryn Colleran, OTD, MS, OT, Utility of an Oral Health Screener for Occupational Therapists in a Mental Health Setting [Second reader; graduated May, 2019].
  6. Daniel Houlihan, OTD, MS, OT, Participation in blue space: Scuba diving and reintegrating combat veterans. [Advisor/First Reader; graduated, May 2018]
  7. Wei-Chang Chen, OTD, MS, OT, School participation and environmental barriers of children with disabilities in Taiwan. [Advisor/First Reader; fulfilled requirements to graduate in August, 2017]
  8. Mary Barnes, OTD, MS, OT, Development and psychometric properties of the Group Leader Self Assessment (GLSA) [Second Reader; graduated, May, 2017]
  9. Susan Higgins, OTD, MS, OT, Current Practice and Perceptions of Group Work in Occupational Therapy. [Second reader; Graduated in 2014]
  10. Michael Roberts, OTD, MS, OT, Academic Fieldwork Coordinators and the Occupational Therapy Level II Fieldwork Placement. [Second reader; Graduated in 2014]
  11. Neal Drew, OTD, MS, OT, Implementation Strategies for Transition Staff Teams Working with Youth with Disabilities. [Second reader; Graduated in 2013]
  12. Ashley Blackington, OTD, MS, OT, Blast related TBI complications – Implications for community reintegration of the returning Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom veteran. [Second reader; Graduated in 2011]
  13. Linda Tirella, OTD, MS, OT, Parent strategies for addressing the needs of their newly internationally adopted child. [Second reader; Graduated in 2010]
  14. Julie Asen, OTD, MS, OT, Development and pilot-testing of the Preschooler Physical Activity Profile. [Advisor/First Reader; Graduated in 2009]
  15. Jeanne Corcoran, OTD, MS,, OT, An occupational therapy curriculum model for the acquisition of information literacy skills. [Advisor/First Reader; Graduated in 2008]
  16. Mary Evenson, OTD, MPH, OT, Web-based case analyses to promote occupational therapy students’ integration of evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning skills. [Advisor/First Reader; Graduated in 2008]

Entry-level Occupational Therapy Professional Doctoral (EL-OTD) students Capstone Projects

  1.  Zachary Gould, OTD, MS, Potential effects of SPAN For Adolescents with Social Anxiety Incorporating Pet Dogs. (completed, spring 2023) (Co-mentored with, Dr. Megan Mueller.)
  2. Emily Machado, OTD, BS, Usability of SPAN For Adolescents with Social Anxiety Incorporating Pet Dogs (completed, spring 2023) (Co-mentored with, Dr. Megan Mueller.)
  3. Nicole Porter, OTD, MS, Usability Testing for Human-Animal Interaction-based Modification of the Social Participation and Navigation (SPAN-HAI) for Adolescents with Social Anxiety (completed, spring 2022) (Co-mentored with, Dr. Megan Mueller.)
  4. Amy Rubin, OTD, BS, Patterns of Change in Social Participation and Goal Planning in Adolescent and Young Adult Brain Tumor Survivors (completed, spring 2022)
  5. Kaitlyn Irwin, OTD, BA, Refining a Universal Design for Learning and Inclusion Tool at Eliot-Pearson Children’s School (completed, spring 2022)
  6. Stephanie Rothman, OTD, BA, Developing a Tool to Identify and Facilitate Social Participation Among Young Preschoolers at Eliot-Pearson Children’s School (completed, spring 2022)
  7. Erin Foley, OTD, BA, Developing guidelines for profile development and meaningful goal-progress monitoring at 3L Place (completed, spring 2022)

Masters Theses / Masters Directed Research Projects

  1. Miranda Cullen (now Fox), MS, OT, Entry-level OT Masters degree student. Social Participation And Navigation (SPAN) Website and application usability study for young adults with brain tumors. (Directed research project, faculty mentor, 2019).
  2. Xianghong (Priscilla) Tan, MS, BS, OT (Singapore), Post-professional Masters degree student. Feasibility testing of the new Social Participation And Navigation (SPAN) website and web-based app. (Directed research project, faculty mentor, 2017-2018).
  3. Hilary Andreff, BS, OT. Social Participation And Navigation (SPAN) and Adoption of Technology (Directed research project/scoping review, faculty mentor, 2017-2018).
  4. Jill Massey, MS, OT (United Kingdom), Post-professional Masters degree student. Preliminary study to examine potential benefits of therapeutic life skills programmes for adolescents who are deaf. (Directed research project, faculty mentor, 2014).
  5. Jennifer Iassogna, MS, OTR/L, Entry-level Masters degree student. Children’s social participation and environmental supports and barriers at school. [Thesis; First reader; Graduated in 2014]
  6. Wei-Chang Chan, MS, OTR/L. Environmental factors affecting participation of children and youth with acquired brain Injuries (Directed research project, faculty mentor, 2010 – 2011).
  7. Stephanie Pimental, MA, OTR, Post-professional Masters degree student. Childhood obesity, perceived self-competence and participation in physical and sedentary activity: A descriptive study. [Thesis; First reader, Graduated in 2006]
  8. Rebecca Wells, MA, Masters degree in Psychology, Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Predicting social participation and cognitive outcomes for individuals sustaining pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury.[Thesis, Measurement consultant, Graduated in 2006]
  9. Cameron Judge, MA, OTR, Entry-level Masters degree student. Management of daily life for five older women living in a senior housing facility. [Thesis; Second reader, Graduated in 2005]
  10. Samantha Wagstaff, Post-professional Masters degree student. Effects of exercise on functional ability and motivational factors influencing participation: Elders’ perspectives. [Thesis; Third reader, Graduated in 2005]
  11. Midge Hobbs, MA, OTR, Entry-level Masters degree student, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) persons Occupational Therapy Network: Development and challenges. [Thesis; Second reader, Graduated in 2005]
  12. Jodi Bornstein, MS, OTR, Post-professional Masters degree student, Functional Abilities after Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation: A Follow-Up Study. [Thesis; First reader, Graduated in 2004]
  13. Sarah Ryan, MA, OTR, Post-professional Masters degree student, Children with Developmental Motor Coordination Disorder and Occupational Therapists’ Clinical Reasoning. [Thesis; Second reader, Graduated in 2004]
  14. Leanne Shola Yinusa, MA, OTR, Post-professional Masters degree student. Four Parents’ Perceptions of Barriers and Enablers that Influence Elementary School Participation for Children with Acquired Brain Injury. [Thesis; Second reader, Boston University, Graduated in 2003]

Mentored Student Research Groups (Occupational Therapy Masters Degree Students)

  1. Kristina Gonzales, Christine Kim, Erin Kunkler, Emily Machado, & Anna Ross. Goal Oriented Coaching to Promote Performance and Participation in Adolescent and Young Adults with Disabilities (2021)
  2. Jean La, Mariana Lacolla, & Julia Parsloe. Improving social participation with executive functioning interventions for youth with traumatic or acquired brain injuries: A scoping review. (2018)
  3. Kathryn Colleran, Kelly Kirschner, Michelle Moser, & Matthew Rousseau. Responsiveness of the items on the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation (CASP) for youth with Traumatic Brain Injury across a 3-year period. [Faculty Mentor, Spring 2016].
  4. Ramangi Aras, Samantha Cooper, Xue Deng & Taylor Rose. Social Participation And Navigation (SPAN): A usability study [Faculty Mentor, spring, 2015]
  5. Sarah Gilmore, S., Shannon Hardy, Caroline, Liu, C., Xiaomin, Luo, Jill, Massey, J., & Perri VanderClock. “Social participation and friendship among school-aged children with disabilities.” [Faculty Mentor, fall, 2014]
  6. Katie Davis, Holly Foster, Katie Shaw, Kristtyn Suarez, Vivian Wong. “The Social Participation Observation Tool (SPOT): An analysis of a participation measure ” [Data collected on kindergartners]; Co-mentored by Jennifer Iassogna (who initially designed measure as part of mentored thesis). [Faculty mentor, spring, 2013]
  7. Poornima Kamath, Melanie LaFavre, Brij Maliya, Sara Neveu, Kelly Wakeham. “Preliminary psychometric and descriptive analysis of the Social Participation Observation Tool (SPOT)” [Data collected on 1st & 2nd graders]; Co-mentored by Jennifer Iassogna (who initially designed measure as part of mentored thesis). [Faculty mentor, Fall, 2012]
  8. Nirzari Babre, Priyanka Khuje, Erin Kirsch, Prafulla Patil, Jennie Schofield. “Patterns of participation of children with and without disabilities.” [Faculty mentor, Fall, 2011]
  9. Tai Frater, Jennifer Iassogna, Vinky Makwana, Ulka Singh, Priyanka Thakkar. “The effects of disability, age and gender on partipation of children and youth.” [Faculty mentor, Fall, 2011]
  10. Jacqueline Bresnahan, Abigail Hamilton, Shawna Hollebone, Hajnalka Lakatos, Laura Memole, “Parent needs and strategies for promoting child participation.” [Faculty mentor, Fall, 2010]
  11. Amanda Bartlett, Mayuri Bedecker, Janhavi Gokhale, Sandeep Gujrul, Mary Meyers, “Comparing participation in social and leisure activities between children with and without disabling ” [Faculty mentor, Fall, 2010]
  12. Wei-Chang Chen, Neal Drew, Amy Gilder, Andreas Larsen, Ingrid Larson, “Environmental factors and participation for children with and without disabilities.”[Faculty mentor, Fall, 2010]
  13. Stephanie Auriemmo, Casey Blair, Alice Emilfarb, Heather Ewing, Elisha Shanker, Caitlyn Wacha, “Factors Influencing Children and Youth’sParticipation: A Child/Parent Interview Study.” [Faculty mentor, Spring, 2009]
  14. Jessica Alves, Joanna Good, Lindsay Fogerty, Anna McCutchen, Alina Smiyun, Anielia Thomas, “Participation in Typically Developing Children.” [Faculty mentor, Spring, 2009]
  15. Monika Touri, Kristina Smith, Mackenzie Ewing, James Norton, Teresa Landgraf, Katherine Flaherty, “The impact of impairment and environmental problems among children with acquired brain injury.” [Faculty mentor, Spring, 2009]
  16. Urvi Desai, Denise Frederick, Elizabeth Furtado, “Home, School, and Community Participation Needs of Children with Acquired Brain Injury.” (Faculty Mentor, graduated 2009).
  17. Yishan Chen and Karen Witts, The Relationship Between Health-Related Quality of Life and Self-Management in Adults with HIV/AIDS (Faculty Mentor, graduated 2009).
  18. Gretchen Ward, Iva Ah-Hing, Wendy Chiu, Anna-Marie Choi, Elizabeth Eskenasi, Joanna Gaines, Cindy Mullen, Columbia University, NY, “Increasing Participation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Using Three Occupational Therapy Treatment Modalities: Parental Perspectives.” [External reader, Graduated in 2008]
  19. Ting-Chun Chen, Katrina Luthy-Kaplan, Caroline Muennich, Amy Orlando, Alicia Zeh-Dean, “Supports and barriers to participation of typically-developing children: Parent and child perspectives.” [Faculty mentor, 2008]
  20. Caitlin Sprague, Isabelle Vuilleumier, Alyssa Surabian, Melinda Morgrage, Ashley Hayes, “Children’s and parents’ perceptions of the restrictions, supports and barriers affecting children’s participation.” [Faculty mentor, 2008]
  21. Ashley Blackington, Erin Swords, Cathleen Ryan, Ektarina Shevchuk, Deanna Chan, “Supports and barriers to participation in activites reported by typically-developing children and their parents.” [Faculty mentor, 2008]
  22. Vanessa Lee, Samantha Padden, Michelle Prendergast, Lisa Ryan, Wendy Wells, “The Preschooler Physical Activity Profile: A pilot study.” [Co-mentor with Ms. Julie Asen, OTD student, 2008]
  23. Valerie Green, Reese Himmer, Lauryn Quinn, Mallory Tillit, Jamie Weiner & Ryan Whitney, “Participation of typically developing children: A comparison study examining youth and caregiver perspectives.” [Faculty mentor, 2007]
  24. Sarah Braid, Melissa DeLuke, Danielle DeSimone, Kristine DiPillo, Alison Ellenbogen, & Jacqueline Kish, “Pilot study of the Child and Adolescent Scale of participation (CASP) – Youth version.” [Faculty mentor, 2007]
  25. Heather Bailey, Stephanie Joe, Leslie Woodis, Maggie Dolan; Entry-level Masters degree students; “Social participation of children without identified disabilities.” [Faculty mentor, 2006]
  26. Cathleen Cowling, Mary Sweeney, Sharon Johnson, Maggie De Long, Deborah Regan, Entry-level Masters degree students; “Social participation in school and community life of typically-developing children and children with Traumatic Brain Injury.” [Faculty mentor, 2006]
  27. Heather Edison, Susan Monte, Monique Davidoff, Gretchen Johnson, Entry-level Masters degree students; “Social participation, child- and environment- related problems, and service use for children with acquired brain injuries.”[Faculty mentor, 2004]
  28. Fawn Cheng, Megan Ono, Lori Weisenborn, Kristin Witek, Entry-level Masters degree students; “Children with disabilities: A description of social participation, child- and environment- related problems, and service use.”[Faculty mentor, 2004]
  29. Eunice Kim, Eileen Elkies, Lindsey Sheppard, Becky Blais, Entry-level Masters degree students; “How do occupational therapy graduate students manage their daily lives?” [Faculty mentor, 2004]
  30. Jill Peters, Erika Peterson, Audrey Philatre, Entry-level Masters degree students; “How graduate students manage their daily lives: Stressors and strategies.” [Faculty mentor, 2004]
  31. Emily Arndt, Kathleen Corcoran, Annie Nam, Katheryn Rollo, Entry-level Masters degree students; “Describing goals, supports and barriers to goal achievement and performance in persons with HIV/AIDS.” [Faculty mentor, 2004]
  32. Emily Zeman, Katy Prizio, Abbey Canter, Entry-level Masters degree students; “Changes in work-related performance, goals, supports and barriers in persons with HIV/AIDS.” [Faculty mentor, 2004]

Student Research Assistants (supported by grants)

  1. Miranda Cullen, MS, OT, Occupational Therapy Post-professional Doctoral Degree (PP-OTD) student. Supported by the Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Fund (2020-2021; continued post-graduation 2021-2023)
  2. Zachary Gould, MS, Occupational Therapy Entry-level Doctoral Degree (EL-OTD) student. Supported by the Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Fund (2020-2023)
  3. Nicole Porter, MS, Occupational Therapy Entry-level Doctoral Degree (EL-OTD) student. Supported by the Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Fund (2020-2022; continued post-graduation to 2023) and the Tufts Springboard Award (2020-2021)
  4. Anna Leffler, BS, Occupational Therapy Entry-level Doctoral Degree (EL-OTD) student. Supported by the Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Fund (2021-2022)
  5. Catherine Silvestri, BS, Occupational Therapy Entry-level Doctoral Degree (EL-OTD) student. Supported by the Tufts Springboard Award (2021)
  6. Marissa Sashihara, Occupational Therapy Entry-level Masters Degree student. Supported by the Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Pilot Study Award Grant # NIH913 (2019)
  7. Larry Scannell, Occupational Therapy Entry-level Masters Degree student. Supported by the Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Pilot Study Award (Grant # NIH913). (2019)
  8. Samantha Hullihen, Occupational Therapy Entry-level Masters Degree student. Supported by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation (2017-2018).
  9. Freya McGregor, Occupational Therapy Post-Professional Masters Degree student. Supported by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation (2017-2018).
  10. Larry Scannell, Occupational Therapy Entry-level Masters Degree student. Supported by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation (2018-2019).
  11. Michele Jacquin, Occupational Therapy Entry-level Masters Degree student. Supported by the Department of Health and Human Services-National Institute on Disability and Independent Living Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). Field Initiated Grant (# H133G130272). (2014-2017)
  12. Sallie Ann Marie Cocjin, Occupational Therapy Entry-level Masters Degree student; Supported by the Department of Health and Human Services-National Institute on Disability and Independent Living Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). Field Initiated Grant (# H133G130272). (2014-2015).
  13. Melanie LaFavre, Occupational Therapy Entry-level Masters Degree student; Supported by the US Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Grant # H133G130272 (2013-2014).
  14. Amy Fleischer Occupational Therapy Entry-level Masters Degree student; Supported by the US Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Grant # H133G130272 (2013-2014).
  15. AnjaLi Carrasco, Occupational Therapy Entry-level Masters Degree student; Supported by the US Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Grant # H133B090010 (2010-2011).
  16. Haley Jepson, Occupational Therapy Entry-level Masters Degree student; Supported by the US Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Grant #H133G070140 (2008-2009).
  17. Brittany Ryan, Undergraduate, Department of Child Development; Supported by the Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Fund and US Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Grant #H133A060075 (2007 – 2008).
  18. Kendra Nicholas, MA, OTR, Occupational Therapy Entry-level Masters Degree student; Supported by the Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Fund, and Tufts University Bernstein Faculty Fellows Award (2006-2007).
  19. Kathleen Corcoran, MA, OTR, Occupational Therapy Entry-level Masters Degree student; Supported by the Tufts University, Faculty Research Award Committee (FRAC) award (2004 – 2005).