Pam Story, OTD, OTR/L, CPAM, CLIPPTM

Occupational Therapy Program Director Allied Health Division Director Assistant Professor

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