John Damiao, Ph.D., MS, OTR/L

Visiting Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy

Education

Ph.D. in Health Related Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University 2020
BS/MS in Occupational Therapy, Dominican University 2009
AAS Occupational Therapy Assistant, Union County College 2000

About

Dr. John Damiao began his OT career graduating from the OTA program at Union County College, NJ in 2000. While practicing as a COTA, he enrolled in the Dominican University weekend OT program, graduating in 2009. In 2017, he enrolled in the PhD in Health Related Sciences program at Virginia Commonwealth University graduating in 2020.

Dr. Damiao has worked with pediatric and adult clients with developmental disabilities from 2000-2017. During this time, he also spent 2 years working under a Google Impact grant as the inventor and lead designer of the indieGo mobility device. Dr. Damiao taught as an adjunct instructor at Dominican University from 2012 until 2017 when he joined the Dominican University OT program full-time.
While maintaining a robust teaching schedule, Dr. Damiao has continued to practice clinically, providing volunteer OT services at multiple organizations throughout Rockland County.

Dr. Damiao’s interests consist of promoting student success, statistical analysis, research methodology, neurorehabilitation, and assistive technology. He also serves as a research mentor and statistician to multiple projects annually. He enjoys the creative and collaborative aspects of mentoring and conducting research projects alongside his colleagues and students. He is also an avid musician, and devoted father and husband.

Current Courses Taught:

Kinesiology in OT Practice
Intro to Research
Research Symposium
Foundations in OT
Advanced Practice in OT

Most Current Scholarship:
Publications:

Peer-Reviewed

Damiao, J. (2022). Unloaded shape-capture for custom-contoured seating: A pilot study. The Journal of Tissue Viability. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtv.2022.01.005

Damiao, J., & Gentry, T. (2021) A systematic review of the effectiveness of pressure relieving cushions in reducing pressure injury. Assistive Technology
https://doi.org/10.1080/10400435.2021.2010148

Damiao, J., Pizzi, M., Kiely, C., Ben Are, S., Chitre, M., Dolan, A., Numa, D., & Yastion, M. (2021) Adapting an off-the-shelf mobility device for early intervention: A case study. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools & Early Intervention
https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2021.2003731

Damiao, J., & Cavaliere, C. (2021). The relationship between smartphone addiction and academic performance in college students. Global Journal of Health Science; Vol. 13, No. 9.
https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v13n9p10

Damiao, J., & Kean, D. (2016). Upper extremity neuro-rehabilitation Through the use of power mobility. Assistive Technology, 28.1, p17-21.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10400435.2015.1059906

Textbook Chapter

Gentry, T., Andelin, L., Capps, M., Damiao, J. & Lent, B. (2021). Assistive technologies for people with traumatic brain injuries. In N.Zasler, D. Katz, & R. Zafonte (Eds.). Brain injury medicine: Practice and principles (3rd ed., Ch. 73). demosMEDICAL.
https://www.springerpub.com/brain-injury-medicine-third-edition-9780826143044.html

Non-peer Reviewed

Damiao, J. (Feb. 2022). Recline and Tilt Provides Effective Pressure Injury Prevention. OT Practice

Damiao, J. (July 9, 2013). Going for the Goal: Power soccer as a motivational tool to learn power mobility skills. OT Advance Online Issue

Scientific Paper

Damiao, J. (July 2021). Facilitators and Barriers to Pressure Injury Prevention Among Wheelchair Users with Upper Motor Neuron Lesions: A narrative review. Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America conference – Scientific Paper
https://www.resna.org/sites/default/files/conference/2021/SeatingandMobility/87_Damiao.html

Noteworthy presentations

Damiao, J., & Kean J. (February 23, 2017) Google Accessibility Summit, San Francisco, Ca
Presented on the indieGo project and the need for innovations in mobility technology at the Google Accessibility Summit to Google, industry and advocacy leaders.

Damiao, J. (October 23, 2017) 7th Adirondack Assistive Technology Conference, Tupper Lake, NY
Provided the North Country Assistive Technology (NCAT) Distinguished Lectureship presentation titled: The Maker Movement and AT: Tools for Improving Outcome Measures

Presentations

Cavaliere, C., & Damiao, J. (November 2020). The impact of sensory processing difference throughout the lifespan: A narrative review. Short course: New York State Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Virtual.

Cavaliere, C., & Damiao, J. (March 2020). The impact of sensory processing difference throughout the lifespan: A narrative review. Short course: Accepted for presentation at the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Boston, Ma

Poster Presentations

Damiao, J., (2021). Coping Strategies Used Among Health Profession Graduate Students in Reaction to Virtual Learning. New York State Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Virtual.

Damiao, J., Blood, N., Balkaran, M., Ballard, D., Cheeseborough, M., Fraija, E., Lee, S., Monfort, J., & Yusupova, C. (2021). A Systematic Review of the Preferred Learning Styles of Allied Health Students. New York State Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Virtual.

Damiao, J., Cadet, L., Polanco, M., Moreyn, S., & Lazarus, E., (2021). A Systematic Review of Telehealth as an Effective Delivery Model for Occupational Therapy Services Amongst Children and Adolescents. New York State Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Virtual.

Piren, C., & Damiao, J. (November, 2020). Crash Course in Virtual Learning: Lessons to carry into the Post-Covid Era? New York State Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Virtual.

Damiao, J., Leyden, E., Montarsi, H., Rose, V., & Somwaru, B., (March, 2020). Using an Unloaded Shape Capture Method for Wheelchair Seating. Accepted for presentation at the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Boston, Ma.

Lisewski, T., Miele-Moran, C., Otsman, F., Sweeney, D., & Damiao, J., (March 2020). Smartphone Addiction & Its Effects on Sophomore College Students' Grade Point Averages. Accepted for presentation at the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Boston, Ma.

Damiao, J., Leyden, E., Montarsi, H., Rose, V., & Somwaru, B., (November, 2019). Using an Unloaded Shape Capture Method for Wheelchair Seating. New York State Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Palisades, NY

Catubig, R., Cudlitz, T., Eliachov, V., Gough, K., McInerney, S., Walters, V., Garbarini, J., & Damiao, J. (April, 2019) Enhancing Participation through the use of Assistive Technology for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. American Occupational Therapy Association Conference, New Orleans, La.

Grants and Awards:

Inventor/Lead Designer of the $1.25 M Google Impact Challenge Grant winning device, ‘IndieGo’, through The Center for Discovery, Harris, NY.

Investigator/Developer/Researcher of a $300K research grant through The Center for Discovery, working to develop power mobility opportunities, technology, trainings, community outreach and outcomes for individuals with significant motor and intellectual challenges.

Recipient of the Pace University College of Health Professions 2021 Dean’s Award for Outstanding Teaching - $1000

Cathy Kenney MiniGrant (2019)- 3D Scanning as a Tool for Creating Assistive Technology Solutions - $5000.

Honoring Leadership Award – Inducted into the Dominican University Alumni Hall of Achievement, April 29, 2017.

Distinguished Service Award – Awarded by the Speech and Hearing Association of the Hudson Valley (SHAHV) May 12, 2015.