University of Wisconsin–Madison

Category: Spotlight on OT

Ruth Benedict Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award

Every year the School of Education recognizes the most outstanding members of its family with Distinguished Achievement Awards. Congratulations to Dr. Ruth Benedict for being selected to receive the School of Education’s 2019 Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award this year! These are given to faculty members who have made particularly significant contributions in teaching, research, and service to …

Flexible Doctor of Occupational Therapy program the latest innovation in a 75-year tradition

More than 100 years ago, the field of occupational therapy emerged in the U.S. to support the health and well-being of World War I veterans and people with mental health conditions. The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Occupational Therapy (OT) program was founded in 1943. Members of the university’s OT program Class of 1951. “There were very …

Assistant Professor Brittany Travers Secures RO1 Grant from NICHD to study “Brainstem Contributions to Sensorimotor and Core Symptoms in Children with ASD

The brainstem is a complex and early-developing brain region that is responsible for sensory, motor, autonomic, and critical-for-life functions. However, technological barriers have prevented researchers from being able to examine substructures of the brainstem with neuroimaging.  In this research, we will examine specific white matter tracts and nuclei within the brainstem in relation to the sensorimotor and core symptom challenges commonly experienced by …

All in the Family: An OT Story

This alumni story was sent to us by Randi Bryn Simenson, MS, OTR/L, C-NDT from the Children’s National Medical Center: I come from a triple OT loving family! Please let me introduce 3 OT’s from 2 generations: Katie, Randi, and Marit Simenson. My mother, Katie Simenson started the tradition in 1954 when she graduated from the University of …

Congratulations 2018 Grads!

On May 12, 2018, the Kinesiology Department hosted graduation ceremonies and banquets for all of our amazing students who graduated. Following the main commencement ceremony at Camp Randall, the Kinesiology graduates and their families joined together under the infamous red and white tent to share stories, words of wisdom and farewells. There were over 500 …

Dr. Kristen Pickett Receives Career Development Award

Congratulations to Dr. Kristen Pickett on receiving an ICTR KL2 Career Development Award! Kristen’s proposed study is titled “Examining the effects of social engagement on exercise outcomes: In-home cycling for individuals with Parkinson disease”. The KL2 Scholars Program provides promising young clinical and translational investigators the training, mentoring, and protected time to develop an independent …