Education:

Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD), Chatham University -2016
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, University of Durban Wetville – 1993

About Dr. Rust:

Dr. Rust has been a practicing occupational therapist for nearly 30 years. Her early clinical experience spanned both medical and community settings with clients all across the human lifespan. For over 20 years now, she has focused on pediatrics and continues to practice in New York City in Early Intervention. In addition, she served as an independent evaluator in an NIH-funded research study examining the efficacy of sensory integration intervention in autism. Dr. Rust’s experience includes more than 15 years of managing and supervising occupational therapy and multidisciplinary departments. She currently manages the occupational therapy department for The Bronx McCarton Early Intervention Center.

Dr. Rust earned her Bachelors in Occupational Therapy from the University of Durban Westville, South Africa. She subsequently earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Chatham University in 2016. Her doctoral capstone examined the impact of a collaborative training and consultation program on teachers’ competence in providing pre-writing instruction. Her continued research and scholarship interests include Early Intervention, sensory integration and related topics, cultural humility and responsiveness, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, and community health and wellness.

As a full-time faculty member at Dominican University since October 2017, Dr. Rust is the faculty advisor to the Dominican University chapter of the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD). Additionally, she leads the occupational therapy program in a collaborative interprofessional student education training with the doctoral physical therapy program on cultural humility, diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion in healthcare.

Current Courses taught:

Tools of Practice
Professional Practice Skills I
Childhood and OT Practice

Recent Publications:

Edeer, A. & Rust, N. (2021). Diversity, inclusion, and justice with community-oriented interprofessional practice. In Pizzi, M. & Amir M. (Eds.). (in progress). Interprofessional perspectives on community practice: Promoting health, well-being and quality of life. SLACK

Recent Presentations

Rust, N. & Govender, S. (November, 2021). A Justice Lens to Integrating Community Practice-based Experiences into Education and Curricula. New York State Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference

Cavaliere, C., Rust, N., Ezemdu, V., Distefano, N., Gerard, S., Lapaj, A., & Petrosky, K., Tavarez, E. (2021). The Efficacy of Early Intervention for Goal Achievement in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comparative Study Across Settings. New York State Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference

Rust, N. (April, 2021) Effective Learning Strategies and Test Taking Techniques. New York State Occupational Therapy Association Student Conclave

Fau, L., Connor, K., Mentor Rust, N. (May 2021)
Finding Joy in Time of Chaos: How to Handle Anxiety During COVID-19. National Alliance on Mental Illness Rockland

Moderated Virtual Community Practice Chats in Support of Dominican Students and Alumn. (2020- 2021). Topics: Telepractice, COVID 19- and Occupational Therapy, Interoception, Diversity, Inclusion, and Occupational Justice, Resilience.

Constenla, L., Hernandez, L., Nelson, K., Mentor Rust., N. (September, 2020). Sensory Play: What do my child’s senses have to do with their mental health?’. National Alliance on Mental Illness Rockland

Coronel, F., Feretti, S., Magno, J., Rust, N., & Damiao, J. (April, 2020). Gamified Instructional Strategies: Cultural Competence Skills for Occupational Therapy Students. Accepted at American Occupational Therapy Association. Boston.

B.A., Rutgers University
M.S., Seton Hall University

A.O.S., Swedish Institute
B.A., Iona College
M.S., Columbia University

Certifications/specialties: Licensed Massage Therapist, Trained in Peggy Huddleston’s Prepare for Surgery: Heal Faster Program; Alumna of the Center for Mind Body Medicine’s (CMBM) Advanced Training program; Urban Zen Integrative Therapy Training Program; Certified yoga teacher; Reiki Master Level Teacher; Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader; Certified Infant Massage Instructor

Interests: cooking, literature, music, yoga

General background: Mary has over twenty years of experience as an occupational therapist in a variety of practice settings.

Clinical background: Mary was as an occupational therapist with the NYC Department of Education for eight years. There she participated in the Senior Instructional Therapist Training Program teaching workshops on seating and positioning and adaptive equipment to therapists in the New York City school system. During that time Mary was also involved in performing home accessibility evaluations and recommending environmental modifications for clients in the community. In 2007 she transitioned to work in adult inpatient rehabilitation at Bellevue Hospital where she worked on the orthopedic and neurological units. She also worked in outpatient traumatic brain injury rehabilitation at the James J. Peters Bronx VA Hospital and on the inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in New York City.

Prior to working at Dominican University, Mary was an Integrative Health Specialist with the NYU Department of Integrative Health Programs at Rusk Rehabilitation. There she designed and implemented programs to help pediatric and adult patients, their families, caregivers, and staff ease pain, anxiety and stress through integrative health modalities such as reiki, guided imagery, adaptive yoga, and meditation.

Administrative background: Mary started as the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the Occupational Therapy Program at Dominican University in the summer of 2016. From 2012-2015 Mary served as the Westchester Rockland District Chair for the New York State Occupational Therapy Association. Mary is currently the Director of the Bronxville Senior Citizens where she develops wellness and social programs for active community dwelling older adults.

Academic background: Mary’s educational background includes a B.A. in English from Iona College, in New Rochelle, NY. She received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Columbia University. After beginning her career as an occupational therapist, Mary studied at the Swedish Institute in New York City, where she received an A.O.S. in massage therapy. Mary completed a certificate in advanced shiatsu studies from the Ohashi Institute. She is a graduate of the first cohort of the Integrative Health Leadership Program at Duke Integrative Medicine. In 2018, Mary served as the Project Scholar for the New Jersey Council for the Humanities Literature in Medicine: Humanities at the Heart of Healthcare program where she led a series of Literature and Medicine Sessions for first and second year medical students in the Arbor Vitae Literary Society at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Mary is currently a doctoral student in the Medical Humanities Program at Drew University working on her dissertation which focuses on loss and the lived experiences of older adults.

At Dominican Mary coordinates all Level I and Level II fieldwork placements and teaches the Introduction to Occupational Therapy and the Level I Fieldwork Seminar courses. Mary enjoys introducing students to the core tenets of the profession as well as its history and evolution. Mary also enjoys working with community partners to develop clinical affiliations and fieldwork experiences for students in traditional as well as emerging areas of practice.

Courses taught:

Introduction to Occupational Therapy
Level I Fieldwork Seminar

Research/Scholarly Interests:

Integrative health and wellness
Mind-body skills and non-pharmacologic methods of pain management
Narrative medicine and ethics
Productive Aging

Recent Publications and Presentations:

Lopes, A., Palase, N, Rigney, C. Wolosin, S., Garbarini, J., & Walsh Roche, M. (April 2019) The Effect of Mindfulness Practice on Graduate Occupational Therapy Students Perceived Stress and Well-being. Poster Presentation at The American Occupational Therapy Association Conference (AOTA), New Orleans, LA.

Lopes, A., Palase, N, Rigney, C. Wolosin, S., Garbarini, J., & Walsh Roche, M. (November 2018) The Effect of Mindfulness Practice on Graduate Occupational Therapy Students Perceived Stress and Well-being. Poster Presentation at The New York State Occupational Therapy Association Conference (NYSOTA), Palisades, NY.

Rust, N. & Walsh Roche, M. (November 2018) True Partners: The Dominican Charism in Occupational Therapy Education and Practice. Poster Presentation at The New York State Occupational Therapy Association Conference (NYSOTA), Palisades, NY.

Rust, N. & Walsh Roche, M. (June 2018). True Partners: The Dominican Charism and Occupational Therapy Education and Practice. 15th Biennial Dominican Colloquium, Providence, RI.

Lopes, A., Palase, N., Rigney, C., Wolosin, S., Garbarini, J., & Walsh Roche, M. (May 2018). The Effect of Mindfulness Practice on Graduate Occupational Therapy Students Perceived Stress and Well-being. International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health (ICIMH), Baltimore, MD.

Walsh Roche, M. (April 2018). Mindfulness Practices and Graduate Occupational Therapy Students Perceived Stress and Well-being. Drew University Medical Humanities Colloquium, Madison, NJ.

Lopes, A., Palase, N., Rigney, C., Wolosin, S., Garbarini, J., & Walsh Roche, M. (March 2018). The Effect of Mindfulness Practice on Graduate Occupational Therapy Students Perceived Stress and Well-being. Drew University Medical Humanities Symposium, Madison, NJ.

Walsh, M., DeSio, T., Abatemarco, J. & Tafurt, M. (May 2016). Integrative Occupational Therapy: Building a Pediatric Rehabilitation Family Integrative Health Program. International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health (ICIMH), Las Vegas, NV.

Walsh, M., Eberhardt, A., Ingraham, M. & Shrestha, D. (May 2016). Mindfulness and Imagination: The Creation of a Pediatric Rehabilitation Adaptive Yoga Program. International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health (ICIMH), Las Vegas, NV.

Walsh, M., Eberhardt, A., Ingraham, M. & Shrestha, D. (November 2015). Mindfulness and Imagination: The Creation of a Pediatric Rehabilitation Adaptive Yoga Program. New York State Occupational Therapy Association Conference, White Plains, NY.

Walsh, M. (November 2014). Mind Body Skills and Occupational Therapy Practice. New York State Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Albany, NY.

Walsh, M. & Siminovich-Blok, B. (October 2014). The Practice of a Modified Form of the Ignatian Examen by Healthcare Workers. International Symposium of Contemplative Studies, Boston. MA.

Walsh, M., Lesser, S. & LaSorse A. (November 2005). Adaptive Environments for Children. United Cerebral Palsy of New York City Techworks Expo, Brooklyn, NY

Education:

Ph.D., Health Sciences, Seton Hall University – 2011
Post Baccalaureate Certificate in O.T., Quinnipiac University – 1997
B.A. Philosophy, Catholic University – 1993

About Dr. Cavaliere:

Dr. Cavaliere has been a practicing clinician for over 20 years, with 15 years working in pediatrics. She has worked in early intervention, schools, and private practice. Dr. Cavaliere received her Ph.D. in Health Sciences from Seton Hall University in early 2011. Her doctoral work used Polyvagal Theory to guide her investigation of the physiologic components of sensory processing and the differences in heart rate variability in response to sensation in children with autism and typically developing children. Dr. Cavaliere’s ongoing research interests focus on sensory health, trauma-responsive practices, and mental health promotion. Clinically, In 2014, she opened her private practice where she serves children and adolescents with sensory processing disorders and their families. In addition, Dr. Cavaliere has lectured extensively to various audiences, including scholars, colleagues, teachers, and parents, on sensory processing and related topics

Dr. Cavaliere serves on the Institutional Review Board and the Faculty Affairs Committee at the College and is the faculty mentor for the Gamma Alpha Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon, Occupational Therapy’s National Honor Society. In 2021, Dr. Cavaliere partnered with the Retention and Student Success department at Dominican University to aid their efforts to support student academic and life success. The Take Charge! Program is designed as an occupation-based mentoring model run by Dr. Cavaliere and Level 2 fieldwork students to provide additional facilitation of success to undergraduate students at risk for academic failure.

Courses taught:

Research in Occupational Therapy
Research Symposium
Adolescence in O.T. Practice

Most recent scholarship:

Publications:

Champagne, T. & Cavaliere, C. (2021) Mental health promotion in children and youth. In Pizzi, M., Amir, M. (Eds.). (In press). Interprofessional perspectives on community practice: Promoting health, well-being and quality of life. SLACK.

Damiao, J.& Cavaliere, C. (2021). The relationship between smartphone addiction and academic performance in college students. Global Journal of Health Sciences, 13(9), 10-15. https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v13n9p10

Cavaliere, C. (2020). Sensory Health: Expanding Our Thinking about Sensory
Processing. World Journal of Yoga, Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation,2(3). WJYPR.MS.ID.000540.

Invited Presentations:

Take Charge! Supporting the success of diverse students in higher education
New York State Occupational Therapy Association Conference (November 2021)

Sensory Health: The missing piece in the wellness conversation (Webinar)
OccupationalTherapy.com (August 2021)

The Impact of Sensory Health on Well-being
New York State Occupational Therapy Association Conference (November 2020)

Poster presentations at the Annual New York State Occupational Therapy Association Conference – November 2021:

The Efficacy of Early Intervention for Goal Achievement in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comparative Study Across Settings
Nadia Rust OTD, OTR/;, Catherine Cavaliere PHD, OTR/L John Damiao, PhD, OTR/L; Vanessa Ezemadu, Nadine Distefano, Stephanie Gerard, Enxhi Lapaj, Kara Petrosky, and Emely Tavarez
Dominican University of Blauvelt-Department of Occupational Therapy

Development and validation of a new sensory health measure: Sensory Health Awareness and Responsiveness Profile
Catherine Cavaliere, Ph.D., OTR/L, John Damaio, Ph.D., OTR/L, Victoria Schulze, COTA, OTS, Gabrielle Cocca, OTS, Katarina Soares, OTS

Health, Well-being, and Quality of Life Following COVID-19: A Mixed Methods Study
Michael Pizzi, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, Catherine Cavaliere, Ph.D., OTR/L; John Damiao, Ph.D., OTR/L; Angela Butler, OTS; Lindsey Curtin, OTS; Lia Fau, OTS; Chris Gray, OTS; and Nicole Weick OTS

Posters accepted for presentation at the 2022 Annual American Occupational Therapy Association Conference- March/April 2022:

The Impact of Sensory Processing Preferences on First-Year College Students Success
Catherine Cavaliere, PhD, OTR/L; John Damiao, PhD, OTR/L; Katherine Nelson, OTS, Olivia Brehmer, OTS, Stephanie Brosnan, OTS, Lauren Constenla, OTS, & Matthew Schurman, OTS

Health, Well-being, and Quality of Life Following COVID-19: A Mixed Methods Study
Michael Pizzi, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA; Catherine Cavaliere, Ph.D., OTR/L; John Damiao, Ph.D., OTR/L; Angela Butler, OTS; Lindsey Curtin, OTS; Lia Fau, OTS; Chris Gray, OTS; and Nicole Weick OTS

Development and validation of a new sensory health measure: Sensory Health Awareness and Responsiveness Profile
Catherine Cavaliere, Ph.D., OTR/L, John Damaio, Ph.D., OTR/L, Victoria Schulze, COTA, OTS, Gabrielle Cocca, OTS, Katarina Soares, OTS

Other:

Proposal Reviewer for the American Occupational Therapy Association National Conference 2020, 2021

Let’s talk Sensory Health with Dr. Cavaliere
The Innovative O.T. podcast – Episode 7 (January 2020)

B.S., Utica College of Syracuse University
O.T.D., Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions

Certifications/specialties: Certification in Physical Agent Modalities (CPAM); Impact Trained Occupational Therapist (ITOT); certified to administer the ADL-focused Occupation-based Neurobehavioral Examination (A-ONE); certified to administer the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

Interests: If it is Occupational Therapy, she is interested in it but has had more specific experience and expertise in hand therapy, neurological rehabilitation, acute and chronic mental health assessment and intervention, adult dysphagia (eating and swallowing disorders), cognition, physical agent modalities, and best practices in teaching and learning. Meeting the distinctive needs of clinical clients to participate in their preferred life activities is foundational to all occupational therapy. Carrying this concept over into meeting the distinctive needs of a diverse set of students learning to become the best entry-level clinicians they can be is a natural extension of her clinical interests.

General background: Over 35 years of clinical experience as a Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR) across a wide variety of adulthood (ages 21 – 100+) settings. She has worked in acute care hospitals with inpatient rehabilitation units, outpatient services, acute- and long-term psychiatric care hospitals and units, extended care group homes for adults with developmental disabilities, and in subacute and long-term care facilities.

Clinical background: Her clinical experience encompasses orthopedics/hand therapy, complex medical, acute neurological, chronic or progressive neurological, psychiatric, and social-emotional conditions. “Dr. Pam” has established and expanded clinical services in each of her clinical settings and overseen the operation of both individual therapy services (Occupational Therapy) and multidisciplinary departments (Occupational, Physical, Speech-Language Pathology, and Respiratory therapies). Early in her career, she mentored occupational therapy students and continued to do so until she changed her practice area from clinical practice to academic practice. All through her clinical career, she was active in providing training and education to her department staff and the staff of other clinical and non-clinical departments.

Administrative background: In her roles as Rehabilitation Manager and Director of Rehabilitation, she also served as the clinical case manager responsible for developing and maintaining productive relationships with insurance company case managers to ensure appropriate coverage for client rehabilitation stays. During her 30 years of supervisory and management positions, she continued to actively treat a significant clinical caseload.

Academic background: She took her first foray into the academic world in 2011 as an adjunct instructor in a weekday master’s level occupational therapy program. She added the position of adjunct instructor at Dominican University in 2013. In 2014, she was recruited by the outgoing OT Program Director to take on the challenge of becoming the Interim Program Director, a full-time academic position, and has been fully committed to the Graduate Occupational Therapy Program and Dominican University ever since. Dr. Pam earned her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree in 2010 from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, focusing on Aging and a particular interest in cognition.

Courses taught:
Previous – Professional Practice Skills I
Current – Clinical Conditions, Adulthood I, Management and Leadership; Modules in Advanced Practice – Physical Agent Modalities, CarFit